Lymphatic organs

By
Amal Fares
 Lymphatic Organs
Primary=central Thymus
Bone marrow

Secondary=Peripheral Lymph Nodes

Spleen &
Tonsils
 Lymph node
• Definition: small oval, bean or kidney-
shaped
• Site: in groups in axilla, neck, thorax,
abdomen.
• Structure: formed of stroma &
parenchyma.
 Stroma of lymph node
a) Capsule thin covered with fats
b) C.T. septa (trabeculae) thin
c) Reticular C.T.
CAPSULE:
• Formed of CT fibers & CT
cells
• May contain smooth muscle
at hilum
• Surrounded by adipose
tissue
 Stroma of lymph node
CT trabeculae:
• Formed of CT fibers & cells
• Extend from deep surface of capsule.
• Divide cortex into regular compartments & medulla
into irregular compartments.
 Stroma of lymph node
Reticular CT:
• Formed of reticular cells & fibers.
• Form the background of the organ.
• It is stained brown with silver.
 Parenchyma
• Formed of cortex & medulla.
• Cortex:
It is the outer zone under the capsule.
It is formed of:
1. Lymphatic nodules (follicles)
2. Cortical lymph sinuses.
3. Paracortex.
(thymus dependant zone)
capsule of stroma
may contain smooth
muscles at hilum
 1. Lymphatic nodules
(follicles)
• Rounded or oval structures formed of aggregations of
small lymphocytes.
• Arrenged in outer cortex and paracortex is arranged in the deep part of the
cortex

• They are either 1ry or 2ry

 1. Lymphatic nodules
(follicles)
They are either 1ry or 2ry:
Primary lymphatic follicles Secondary lymphatic follicles
(without germinal center) (with germinal center)
Formed of aggregation of B- After exposure to antigen or
Lymphocytes & macrophages infection
They have periphral dark regions
of small lymphocytes & a pale
center (germinal center) contain
large activated B lymphocytes,
plasma cells & macrophages.
Lymphatic nodules
(follicles)
 Cortex
2. Cortical lymphatic sinuses: the space separating lymph
nodules from the capsule (subcapsular sinuses) and
trabeculae (trabecular sinuses).
 Cortex
3. The paracortex (thymus dependant zone):
The deep part of cortex
It contain T- lymphocytes which have migrated from
the thymus.

paracortex
 Medulla
• Lighter in staining
• Less lymphocytes
• Formed of:
1. Medullary cords: irregular branching
cords of B- lymphocytes, plasma cells
2. Medullary sinuses: space between
medullary cords & trabeulae, lined with
endothelium & macrophages.
 Lymph circulation
• Afferent lymphatic vessels
carry lymph to cortex.
• Lymph flow in one direction
• Lymph filtered in cortical
sinuses then medullary
sinuses.
• Come out by efferent
lympatic vessels through
hilum.
 Functions of lymph nodes
1. Filter lymph.
2. Proliferation & production of lymphocytes.
3. Immunological functions: humoral & cell mediated
immunity.
 Spleen
• Single intra-abdominal hemolymphatic
organ.
• Structure: formed of stroma & parenchyma.
just like the formation of lymph nodes
 Stroma of spleen
• Stroma: 1-Capsule: rich in smooth muscle
thick covered with peritoneum

thick
2-Trabeculae: elastic fibers & sm ms
divide spleen into irregular compartments.
3-Reticular Network
• Parenchyma:
1-White Pulp= Malpighian corpuscles
2-Red Pulp:
a-Splenic Cords=billroth cord.
b-Blood Sinusoids
 II_Parenchyma
Sructure, Spleen A-
White Pulp=
Lym.F=Malpighian C.

Peritonium, Capsule
Central Arterioles

I-Stroma=CT Germinal Center

A-Capsule

B-Trabeculae
B-Red Pulp
C-Reticular fs. Bl. Sinusoids

Splenic Cords
=Billroth C.
 White pulp
(malpighian corpuscles)
• White in fresh section.
• Rounded lymphatic nodules.
• Formed of: 4 concentric zones arranged around the
central arteriole from
• inside outwards:
1. Thymus dependent zone.
2. Germinal center.
3. Follicular zone.
4. Marginal (periphral) zone.
 White pulp
(malpighian corpuscles)
1. Thymus dependent zone= T- cells
2. Germinal center= activated B-cells,
plasmablasts, plasma cells & macrophages
3. Follicular zone= B- cells.
4. Marginal (periphral) zone= B&T lymphocytes
 White & Red Pulp

Red Pulp

Marginal Zone

Central art.
Venous sinuses

Germinal
Center
Trabeculae

Marginal
Trabecular Vein Zone

Red Pulp White Pulp

 Red Pulp
• Red in fresh sections.
• Formed of:
Billroth cords
1. Splenic cords: contain blood cells, plasma cells
& macrophages.
2. Blood sinusoids: lined with fenestrated
endothelium, macrophages (littoral cells)
just like Medullary sinuses: space between
medullary cords & trabeulae, lined with
endothelium & macrophages.
 Functions of spleen
1. Filter blood.
2. Storage of blood.
3. Production of lymphocytes.
4. Destruction of old RBCs.
5. Immunological functions.
 Differences between lymph node &
spleen
Lymph node spleen

Number multiple Single

Capsule Thin, covered with Thick, covered by

fat peritoneum
Trabeculae Thin, descend from Thick
capsule extend from the deep
surface of the capsule

Parenchyma Cortex & medulla White pulp & red

pulp
Cells No RBCs Rich in RBCs

Functions Filters lymph Filter blood