Lymphatic System

The lymph system is not a closed system. The circulatory system processes an average of 20 liters of blood per day through capillary filtration which removes plasma while leaving the blood cells. Roughly 17 liters of the filtered plasma actually get reabsorbed directly into the blood vessels, while the remaining 3 liters are left behind in the interstitial fluid. The primary function of the lymph system is to provide an accessory route for these excess 3 liters per day to get returned to the blood. Lymph is essentially recycled blood plasma. Lymphatic organs play an important part in the immune system, having a considerable overlap with the lymphoid system. Lymphoid tissue is found in many organs, particularly the lymph nodes, and in the lymphoid follicles associated with the digestive system such as the tonsils. Lymphoid tissues contain lymphocytes, but they also contain other types of cells for support. The system also includes all the structures dedicated to the circulation and production of lymphocytes (the primary cellular component of lymph), which includes the spleen, thymus, bone marrow, and the lymphoid tissue associated with the digestive system. The blood does not directly come in contact with the parenchymal cells and tissues in the body, but constituents of the blood first exit the microvascular exchange blood vessels to become interstitial fluid, which comes into contact with the parenchymal cells of the body. Lymph is the fluid that is formed when

interstitial fluid enters the initial lymphatic vessels of the lymphatic system. The lymph is then moved along the lymphatic vessel network by either intrinsic contractions of the lymphatic passages or by extrinsic compression of the lymphatic vessels via external tissue forces (e.g. the contractions of skeletal muscles). The organization of lymph nodes and drainage follows the organization of the body into external and internal regions; therefore, the lymphatic drainage of the head, limbs, and body cavity walls follows an external route, and the lymphatic drainage of the thorax, abdomen, and pelvic cavities follows an internal route. Eventually, the lymph vessels empty into the lymphatic ducts, which drain into one of the two subclavian veins (near the junctions of the subclavian veins with the internal jugular veins).

Functions of the Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system has multiple interrelated functions: it is responsible for the removal of interstitial fluid from tissues it absorbs and transports fatty acids and fats as chyle from the digestive system it transports white blood cells to and from the lymph nodes into the bones The lymph transports antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells, to the lymph nodes where an immune response is stimulated.

Organs of the Lymphatic System Lymph Nodes

A lymph node is an oval-shaped organ of the immune system, distributed widely throughout the body including the armpit and stomach and linked by lymphatic vessels. Lymph nodes are garrisons of B, T, and other immune cells. Lymph nodes act as filters or traps for foreign particles and are important in the proper functioning of the immune system. They are packed tightly with the white blood cells called lymphocytes and macrophages. Lymph nodes also have clinical significance. They become inflamed or enlarged in various conditions, which may range from trivial, such as a throat infection, to life-threatening such as cancers. In the latter, the condition of lymph nodes is so significant that it is used for cancer staging, which decides the treatment to be employed, and for determining the prognosis. When swollen, inflamed or enlarged, lymph nodes can be hard, firm or tender.

Spleen

The spleen is a soft, blood-rich organ that filters blood. It is located in the left side of the abdominal cavity, just beneath the diaphragm, and curls around the anterior aspect of the stomach. Instead of filtering lymph, the spleen filters and cleanses blood of bacteria, viruses, and other debris. As with the other lymphoid organs, the spleen provides a site for lymphocyte proliferation and immune surveillance, but its most important function is to destroy worn-out blood cells and return some of their breakdown

products to the liver. Other functions of the spleen include storing platelets and acting as a blood reservoir. Thymus The thymus gland, which functions at peak levels only during youth, is a lymphoid mass found low in the throat overlying the heart. The thymus produces hormones, thymosin and others, that function in the programming the certain lymphocytes so they can carry out their protective roles in the body. Tonsils The tonsils are small masses of lymphoid tissue that ring the pharynx, where they are found in the mucosa. Their job is to trap and remove any bacteria or other foreign pathogens entering the throat. They carry out this function so efficiently that sometimes they become congested with bacteria and becomes red, swollen, and sore, a condition called tonsillitis. Peyers Patches Peyers patches, which resemble tonsils, are found in the wall of the small intestine. The macrophages of Peyers patches are in an ideal position to capture and destroy bacteria (always present in tremendous numbers in the intestines), thereby preventing them from penetrating the intestinal wall. Peyers patches and the tonsils are part of the collection of small lymphoid tissues reffered to as mucosaassociated lymphatic tissue (MALT). Collectively, MALT acts as a sentinel to protect the upper respiratory and digestive tracts from the never-ending attacks of foreign matter entering those cavities.