LYMPHATIC AND IMMUNE SYSTEM
Lymphatic System
- Has several primary functions:
o Maintains extracellular fluid balance
Lymph – fluid inside the lymphatic capillaries; passes through the lymphatic vessels to return to
blood.
o Absorbs fats and other substances from the digestive tract
Chyle – white , milky fluid that passes through the lymphatic vessels
o Functions in the immune system defense of the body.
Pathogens such as microorganisms and other foreign substances are filtered from lymph by
lymph nodes and from blood by spleen.
- Composed of a number of vessels and other structures.
Lymphatic Anatomy
Lymph or lymphatic fluid
- An excess from interstitial
areas.
Lymphocytes
- originate from the red bone
marrow and are carried by
the blood to lymphatic
organs.
o divide and increase
in number when the
body is exposed to
pathogens
Lymphatic Vessels
- Similar to veins in the
structure of their walls and
the presence of many
valves
- Collect lymph from
interstitial spaces in the
regions served and conduct
it toward the blood circulation.
o Right Lymphatic duct
Large collecting vessel that receives lymph from the superior right quadrant of the body.
o Thoracic duct
Conducts lymph received from the rest of the body
Each duct empties into a subclavian vein
1
References:
1. “Anatomy & Physiology Revealed.” Mheducation.com, 2019, anatomy.mheducation.com/html/apr.html?animal=human&.
2. VanPutte, Cinnamon, Jennifer Regan & Andrew Russo (2019). Seeley’s Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology: 10th ed. McGraw-Hill Education.
3. Patton, K.T. (2013). Laboratory Manual Seeley’s Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology: 8th Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
LYMPHATIC AND IMMUNE SYSTEM
Lymph nodes
- Small, round organs located at irregular intervals in the network of lymph vessels.
- Contain lymphatic tissue mainly composed of lymphocytes.
- Distributed unevenly, with
major aggregations of nodes in
the neck (cervical nodes),
armpit (axillary nodes), and
groin (inguinal nodes).
o Afferent vessel
Conduct
lymph into a
lymph node
o Efferent vessel
Conduct
lymph out of
each node
o Lymph nodules
Within the node, lymph tissue
often forms dense masses
Germinal center
o Composed of
rapidly
dividing
lymphocytes
o Lymph sinus
A space that surrounds each
node through which lymph
circulates
Also contain macrophages
o Capsule
Functions as the outer
boundary and support
structure for each lymph
node.
The inner surface of the
capsule has inward extensions that separates the nodules from one another.
Tonsils
- Lymph organs that surround the openings of the mouth, nose and throat into the lower digestive and respiratory
tracts.
2
References:
1. “Anatomy & Physiology Revealed.” Mheducation.com, 2019, anatomy.mheducation.com/html/apr.html?animal=human&.
2. VanPutte, Cinnamon, Jennifer Regan & Andrew Russo (2019). Seeley’s Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology: 10th ed. McGraw-Hill Education.
3. Patton, K.T. (2013). Laboratory Manual Seeley’s Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology: 8th Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
LYMPHATIC AND IMMUNE SYSTEM
o Palatine tonsils
Each on lateral side of the opening of the mouth into the throat
o Pharyngeal tonsils
Top of the throat (pharynx) near the posterior of the nasal cavity.
o Laryngeal tonsils
Posterior of the tongue’s base
Spleen
- Located in the upper left abdominal cavity
- roughly the size of a clenched fist and is located in the left superior corner of the abdominal cavity.
- filters blood instead of lymph.
o Macrophages in the red pulp remove foreign substances and worn out red blood cells.
Thymus
- Located in anterior mediastinum
- bi-lobed gland roughly triangular in shape. Located in the superior mediastinum, the partition dividing the thoracic
cavity into left and right parts.
- - site of maturation of a class of lymphocytes called T cells.
IMMUNE SYSTEM
Immunology
- Study of the reactions of host when foreign substances are introduced to the body
- Study all aspects of body defences, such as antigens and antibodies, allergy and hypersensitivity.
Lymphoid Organs
Primary Lymphoid Organ:
1. Thymus
2. Bone Marrow
Secondary Lymphoid Organ:
1. Spleen
2. Lymph nodes
3. MALT
a. Peyer’s Patches
b. Tonsils
3
References:
1. “Anatomy & Physiology Revealed.” Mheducation.com, 2019, anatomy.mheducation.com/html/apr.html?animal=human&.
2. VanPutte, Cinnamon, Jennifer Regan & Andrew Russo (2019). Seeley’s Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology: 10th ed. McGraw-Hill Education.
3. Patton, K.T. (2013). Laboratory Manual Seeley’s Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology: 8th Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
LYMPHATIC AND IMMUNE SYSTEM
c. Appendix
4
References:
1. “Anatomy & Physiology Revealed.” Mheducation.com, 2019, anatomy.mheducation.com/html/apr.html?animal=human&.
2. VanPutte, Cinnamon, Jennifer Regan & Andrew Russo (2019). Seeley’s Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology: 10th ed. McGraw-Hill Education.
3. Patton, K.T. (2013). Laboratory Manual Seeley’s Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology: 8th Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
