Lymphatic System: Overview

3 Parts to Lymphatic System

1. Lymphatic vessels passive, one way return; has
valves; green on models
2. Lymphoid tissues and organs
3. Lymph interstitial fluid in lymphatic vessels

Returns interstitial fluid and leaked plasma

proteins back to the blood

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Lymphatic System: Overview: Vessels & nodes

** green area drained by rt
lymphatic duct

**rest of body drained by

thoracic duct
arising from cisterna chyli

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Transports cancer
cells, inflammatory
products;
pathogens;edema if
blocked; immobilize
local infections Figure 20.2a

Lymphatic System: Overview: Collects Tissue Juice

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Figure 20.1a

Lymphatic Capillaries: One Way Minivalves

Bigger than cardio

vessels; more permeable

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Figure 20.1b

Lymphoid Cells

Lymphocytes immune responders

T cells

B cells

plasma cells

Macrophages, Monocytes phagocytes; antigen

processing

Dendritic cells- phagocytes

Recticular cells- make up stroma structure of

lymphoid organs

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Lymphoid Tissue

Reticular connective tissue

Lymphoid structures are site of many macrophages & huge

numbers of lymphocytes that proliferate within tissue

May be Diffuse or in Follicles

Diffuse lymphatic tissue scattered; in all organs

Lymphatic follicles (nodules) solid, spherical bodies

consisting of tightly packed reticular elements and cells

Germinal center composed of dendritic and B cells

Found in isolation and as part of larger lymphoid organs

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Lymph Nodes

Principal lymphoid organs of the body

Clusters along lymphatic vessels

Near the body surface:

Inguinal

Axillary

Cervical

Sentenil node- 1st node in lymphatic path (to

receive lymph) from cancerous area

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Figure 20.4a

Lymph Nodes

Two basic functions:

Filtration macrophages destroy microorganisms

and debris

Immune system activation monitor for antigens

and mount an attack against them

Enlargement due to lymphocyte proliferation

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Structure of a Lymph Node

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Figure 20.4a, b

Other Lymphoid Organs

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Figure 20.5

Spleen

Largest lymphoid organ

left side of the abdominal cavity beneath the diaphragm

Splenic artery & splenic vein- highly vascular tissue

Functions:

Site of lymphocyte proliferation splenomegaly

Breaks down old blood cells, pathogens;

Stores, releases breakdown products of Hgb

Stores platelets

Hematopoietic site in fetus

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Structure of the Spleen

Fibrous

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Figure 20.6a, b

Thymus

Bilobed organ-secretes thymosin & thymopoietin

Infants- in the inferior neck, into the mediastinum

It increases in size and is most active during

childhood

It stops growing during adolescence and then

gradually atrophies

T cell maturation

In stroma, epithelium secretes hormones

Antigens do not enter; blood thymus barrier

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Internal Anatomy of the Thymus

Cortex

Densely packed lymphocytes

Scattered macrophages

Medulla

Fewer lymphocytes

Hassalls corpuscles

Whorls of keratinized epithelial cells

Site of T cell breakdown

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Tonsils

Simplest lymphoid organs; form a ring of

lymphatic tissue around the pharynx

Location:

Palatine tonsils either side of the posterior end of

the oral cavity

Lingual tonsils lie at the base of the tongue

Pharyngeal tonsil posterior wall of the

nasopharynx

Tubal tonsils surround the openings of the

auditory tubes into the pharynx

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Tonsils

Lymphoid tissue of tonsils contains follicles with

germinal centers

Tonsil masses are not fully encapsulated

Epithelial tissue overlying tonsil masses

invaginates, forming blind-ended crypts

Crypts trap and destroy bacteria and particulate

matter make memory cells

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Aggregates of Lymphoid Follicles

Peyers patches isolated clusters of lymphoid

tissue, similar to tonsils

Found in the wall of the distal portion of the small

intestine

Similar structures are found in the appendix

Peyers patches and the appendix:

Destroy bacteria, preventing them from breaching

the intestinal wall

Generate memory lymphocytes for long-term

immunity

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

MALT

MALT mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue:

Peyers patches, tonsils, and the appendix

(digestive tract)

Lymphoid nodules in the walls of the bronchi

(respiratory tract)

MALT protects the digestive and respiratory

systems from foreign matter (these areas are open
to exterior)

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Developmental Aspects

Beginnings of the lymphatic vessels and main

clusters of lymph nodes are apparent by the fifth
week of embryonic development

These arise from the budding of lymph sacs from

developing veins

Lymphatic organs (except the thymus) arise from

mesoderm

Thymus from endoderm

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Developmental Aspects

The thymus (endodermal origin) forms as an

outgrowth of the pharynx

Except for the spleen and tonsils, lymphoid organs

are poorly developed at birth

Copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings