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Lymhatic System

Todays topics
What is the lymphatic system Composition of lymph Formation of lymph Transportation of lymph The transportation system What are lymph nodes

Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system consists of a unique set of vessels separate from the circulatory system that includes a clear lymph. These vessels lack a pump such as a heart and must depend on other means to transport the fluid.

Composition of Lymph
The lymph is clear although it has many components of blood it lacks erythroctyes (RBCs) and thrombocytes (platelets). RBCs) Naturally the red blood cells would cause the lymph to be red similar to blood not clear.

Compositon of lymph (cont)


Thus fluid, called interstitial fluid, is simply fluid, blood plasma minus most of the proteins. When blood enters the arteriole end of a capillary, it is still under pressure produced by the contraction of the left ventricle. As a result of this pressure, a substantial amount of water and some plasma proteins filter through the walls of the capillaries into the interstitial space.

Formation of lymph
The lymph forms when the interstitial fluid escapes from spaces and enters a lymph capillary. The fluid in the interstitial spaces is known as interstitial fluid. When this fluid enters a lymph vessel it is then called lymph. It has the same elements as interstitial fluid the location is the reason for the name change.

Lymph vessels
The smallest of the lymph vessels would be the lymph capillaries. These vessels have one way valves that allow the interstitial fluid to enter the lymph capillaries but not escape.

Lymph capillary working

1-way valve

Lymphatic System

Following the lymph


The lymph moves from the lymph capillary to larger lymph vessels. The lymph vessels have enlarged swollen-like structures on them called swollenlymph nodes.

Lymph nodes
Several hundred lymph nodes are scattered throughout the lymphatic system, especially in the groin armpits abdomen and neck.

Function of lymph nodes


These contain cavities - called sinuses into which the lymph flows. The walls of the sinuses are lined with phagocytic cells, which engulf any foreign particles, e.g., bacteria, that might be present in the lymph. Tests have demonstrated that over 99% of the bacteria carried into a node are screened out before the lymph leaves the node on its return to the blood.

Lymph node from a cat


Size of a large pea

Lymph node (details)

Location of lymph nodes

Lower lymph nodes

Lymph vessels go here


All of the lymph vessels dump into one of two subclavian veins. All the lymph collected from the entire left side of the body, the digestive tract and the right side of the lower part of the body flows into a single major vessel, the thoracic duct ( also known as left lymphatic duct)

Thoracic duct

One third of lymph goes to the right lymphatic duct.


The right upper quadrant dumps into the right lymphatic duct. Thus all the lymph is returned to the blood. The lymph originated from the blood and returned to the blood.

IF no heart why does it move.


Lymph vessels surrounded by smooth muscle which contracts myogenically & propels lymph forward Lymph vessels lie between skeletal muscles; lymph is also propelled forward by skeletal muscle

contraction

Lymph flow continued


By breathing the thorax creates a vacuum that draws the lymph toward the thoracic cavity where the thoracic duct is found. The production of new lymph also propels the lymph away from the interstitial spaces and into lymph capillaries.

Pohalas Home website


http://academic.luzerne.edu/rpohala This presentation can be viewed as a slide show or printed out in a handout version by going to the website and clicking on links and choosing lymphatic system and choosing whether to view as a slide show or print out.

Other interesting websites


http://www.acm.uiuc.edu/sigbio/project/ly mphatic/ http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/ BiologyPages/L/Lymphatic.html http://www.cayugahttp://www.cayugacc.edu/about/facultypages/greer/biol204/l ymphatic2/lymphatic2.html

More websites

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