LYMPHATIC SYSTEM GUIDE
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM: • Works with the circulatory system
Removes waste and excess fluids from the body tissues Comprised of:
• Lymph • • Lymph nodes (glands)
THE LYMPHATIC/IMMUNE SYSTEM: The system contains:
• Lymph nodes • • Lymphatic Ducts • • • Thymus
LYMPHATIC STRUCTURES: • LYMPH: • • Composed of intercellular or interstitial fluid that forms when plasma
diffuses into tissue spaces • Composed of water, digested nutrients, salts, hormones, oxygen, carbon
dioxide, lymphocytes, and metabolic wastes such as urea • • LYMPHATIC VESSELS: • Located throughout the body in almost all tissues that have blood
vessels • LYMPHATIC CAPILLARIES: • • Pick up lymph at tissues throughout the body • Capillaries join together to form large lymph vessels • • Contractions of skeletal muscles against lymph vessels causes lymph to
flow through the vessels
* Lymph vessels travel through lymph nodes that contain valves that only allow lymph to flow one way LYMPH NODES: * * * Small, round masses ranging in size from a pinhead to an almond
• LYMPH NODES: • Filter lymph and remove impurities such as: • • • • Dead blood cells • LYMPHATIC TISSUE IN NODES: • Produce substances like:
• Lymphocytes: •
• As lymphatic vessels leave the lymph nodes, they continue to join together to form larger lymph vessels
• • RIGHT LYMPHATIC DUCT: • Short tube: • • THORACIC DUCT: • Much larger tube that drains lymph from the rest of the body • LYMPH TISSUE: • • Tonsils, spleen, and thymus are examples of lymphatic tissue • TONSILS: • • Filter interstitial fluid • Three pairs of tonsils:
• • • Lingual tonsils
• SPLEEN: • • • Destroys old erythrocytes • Stores erythrocytes to release in to the blood stream in excessive
blood loss occurs • • Filters some waste • THYMUS: • • Atrophies after puberty and is replaced by fat and connective tissue • Functions during early life:
• • • Function is taken over by lymph nodes after atrophy
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM:
DISEASES AND DISORDERS ADENITIS:
! ! Occurs when pathogens or cancer cells enter lymph nodes and infect the
tissue ! Symptoms: ! Abscess may form in the node if not treated ! Treatment:
HODGKIN’S DISEASE: ! ! Most common form of lymphoma (tumor of lymph tissue) ! Symptoms:
! Painless swelling of lymph nodes ! ! ! Fatigue !
! TREATMENT: LYMPHANGITIS:
! ! Usually occurs from infection in an extremity ! Symptoms:
! ! Fever and chills !
! Treatment: ! Rest and elevation of affected part !
SPLENOMEGALY: ! ! Causes: Abnormal accumulation of erythrocytes, mononucleosis, and
cirrhosis of the liver ! Symptoms: ! Increased destruction of blood cells can lead to anemia, leukopenia,
and thrombocytopenia ! If spleen ruptures: ! Splenectomy done in severe cases
TONSILITIS: ! ! Usually involves the adenoids and palatine tonsils ! Symptoms:
! ! ! White or yellow spots on exudate of tonsils ! Swollen lymph nodes by the mandible
! TREATMENT: ! ! Warm throat irrigations ! ! Tonsilectomy in chronic cases