Lymphatic System

Part of our Immune system

Purpose of Lymphatic System• Collects excess fluids

surrounding your cells• What is the fluid that surrounds

your cells?• Helps eliminate the pathogens

in this fluid and returns it to your blood stream

• Do you think this fluid is returned to a vein or artery?

• Helps your body fight pathogens

• What does your body need to fight pathogens?

Lymphatic System consists of

• Lymph Vessels• Lymph• Lymphatic Organs

Lymph Vessels

• Are like the blood vessels but instead of carrying blood they carry excess cellular fluids called …

Lymph

• Excess fluid (plasma) surrounding the cells that contains some cell waste and some cell nutrients

• What kind of waste might be in Lymph?

• What would happen if these wastes were left surrounding the cell?

Lymphatic Organs

• Lymph nodes• Thymus • Spleen• Tonsils

Lymph Nodes

• Bean shaped organs that are found connected to the lymph vessels that remove particles such as pathogens and dead cells from the Lymph

• Contain wbc’s• Get swollen when we are

fighting an infection• Why do you think the

lymph nodes swell?

Thymus Gland

• Located above the heart• Releases and produces

wbc’s

Spleen

• Largest Lymphatic organ• Located in the upper

side of the abdomen• Filters the blood – rbc

recycling center• Produces and releases

wbc’s

Tonsils

• Made up of Lymphatic tissue at the back of the tongue

• Helps defend body against infection by releasing wbc’s

• Can become infected and may have to be removed