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