dr rania abdel ghany

The Lymphatic System and

Lymphoid Organs
and Tissues
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

The lymphatic system is part of the circulatory system and the immune system,comprising a

network of lymphatic vessels that carry a clear fluid

called lymph unidirectionally towards the heart.

FUNCTIONS OF LYMPHATIC SYStem

1-Removal of interstitial fluid from tissues

2--Absorption of Fat:Lymphvessels called lacteals are present in the lining of the small

intestine.Which absorb fat.

3-Transportation of WBC

4-immune function:Cells in the lymphatic system react to antigens presented or foundby the

cells.
COMPONENTS OF LYMPHATIC SYSTIM

The components of lymphatic system are:

I-lymph (the clear fluid contained in those vessels)

2 -lymph vessels

3-lymph nodes
LYMPH
• A clear fluid composed mainly of water ,electrolytes and some plasma proteins
• Transported in lymphatic pathway from lymphatic vessels to collecting ducts and end disposed
into venous blood
• When blood circulates in high pressure,the fluid (plasma) portion seeps through thin capillary
walls into surrounding tissue.
This problem of circulatory dynamics is resolved by the
lymphatic vessels, or lymphatics, elaborate networks
of drainage vessels that collect the excess protein-
containing interstitial
fluid and return it to the bloodstream. Once interstitial fluid
enters the lymphatic vessels, it is lymph (clear water)
LYMPH VESSEL

run parallel to blood capillaries in all body tissues and allow diffusion of fluid from

interstitial spaces into lymphatic pathway.

Structurally identical to veins vessel wall composed of 3 thin layers of tissue,and

contain valves to prevent back flow

Distribution and Structure of Lymphatic Vessels
• The lymphatic vessels form a one-way system in which
lymph flows only toward the heart.
• Return excess tissue fluid to the blood

● Return leaked proteins to the blood

● Carry pathogens to lymph nodes
● Carry absorbed fat from the intestine to the blood
• Lymphatic Capillaries:are blind-ended tubes in which
adjacent endothelial cells overlap each other, forming
flaplike minivalves.
• These capillaries weave in body tissue
• they are absent from bones (including
bone marrow) and teeth

they are present but restricted to limited

locations in the meninges. These vessels
help drain the extracellular fluids in the
brain
(interstitial and cerebrospinal fluids).
remarkably permeable

• The endothelial cells forming the walls of lymphatic capillaries

• are not tightly joined. Instead, the
edges of adjacent cells overlap
each other loosely, forming easily opened, flaplike minivalves
• Collagen filaments anchor the
endothelial cells to surrounding structures so that any increase in
interstitial fluid volume opens the minivalves, rather than causing the
lymphatic capillaries to collapse.
• When fluid pressure in the interstitial space is greater than the pressure in the
lymphatic capillary, the minivalve flaps gape open, allowing fluid to enter the
lymphatic capillary
• However, when the pressure is greater inside the lymphatic capillary, it forces the
endothelial minivalve flaps shut, preventing lymph from leaking back out
• as the pressure moves it along the vessel.

Proteins in the interstitial space are unable to enter blood

capillaries, but they enter lymphatic capillaries easily. In addition, when tissues
become inflamed, lymphatic capillaries
• develop openings that permit uptake of even larger particles
• such as cell debris, pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms such as bacteria and
viruses), and cancer cells. These particles travel with the lymph to the lymph nodes,
where they are removed by cells of the immune system. The process of pathogens
meeting up with immune cells in lymph nodes is critical for activating an immune
response.

A special set of lymphatic capillaries called lacteals transports absorbed fat from the small

intestine to the bloodstream Lacteals are so called because of the milky white lymph that

drains through them This fatty lymph, called chyle (“juice”), drains

from the fingerlike villi of the intestinal mucosa.

The collecting lymphatic vessels have the
same three tunics
as veins, but the collecting vessels have
thinner walls and more
internal valves, and they anastomose more.
In general, lymphatics in the skin travel
along with superficial veins, while
the deep lymphatic vessels of the trunk and
digestive viscera travel with the deep
arteries.

The largest collecting vessels unite to form lymphatic trunks,

which drain fairly large areas of the body. The major trunks,
named mostly for the regions from which they drain lymph,
are the paired lumbar, bronchomediastinal, subclavian,
• Lymph is eventually delivered to one of two large ducts in

the thoracic region.

• The right lymphatic duct
• drains lymph from the right upper limb and the right side of the head and thorax
• The much larger thoracic duct receives lymph from the rest of the body

It collects lymph from the

two large lumbar trunks that drain the lower limbs and from
the intestinal trunk that drains the digestive organs. In about
half of individuals, the thoracic duct begins as an enlarged
sac, the cisterna chyli, located in the region between the last thoracic and second
lumbar vertebrae.
• As the thoracic duct runs superiorly, it
receives lymphatic drainage
• from the left side of the thorax, left upper
limb, and the left side of the head.
• Each terminal duct empties its lymph
into the venous circulation at the junction
of the internal jugular vein and
subclavian vein on its own side of the
body
lymphangitis
• Like the larger blood vessels, the larger lymphatics receive

their nutrient blood supply from a branching vasa vasorum.

When lymphatic vessels are severely inflamed, the related vessels of the vasa vasorum
become congested with blood.
• As a result, the pathway of the associated superficial lymphatics becomes visible through
the skin as red streaks that
• are tender to the touch. This unpleasant condition
• Lymph Transport:
• The lymphatic system lacks an organ that acts as a pump,Lymphatic vessels are low-pressure
conduits, SO how lymph can move
• 1-the milking action of active skeletal muscles

2-, pressure changes in the thorax during breathing,

3-valves to prevent backflow
4-pulsations of nearby arteries also promote lymph flow
5- In addition to these mechanisms, smooth muscle in the walls of
all but the smallest lymphatic vessels contracts rhythmically,
helping to pump the lymph along.
Even so, lymph transport is sporadic and slow.
• Check Your Understanding
• 1. What is lymph? Where does it come from?
• 2. Name two lymphatic ducts and indicate the
body regions usually drained by each.
• 3. What is the driving force for lymph
movement?
Lymphoid cells and tissues
lymphoid cells:consist of immune system cells are found in lymphoid organs and
in connective tissue of other organs
Lymphoid Cells
they are the main celles of immune system
lymphocytes
macrophages
Lymphocytes are the main warriors of the immune system.
There are two main varieties of lymphocytes
T cells (T lymphocytes) and B cells (B lymphocytes)
that protect the body against antigens. (Antigens are anything that provokes
an immune response, such as bacteria and their toxins, viruses,
mismatched RBCs, or cancer cells.)
Activated T cells manage the
immune response, and some of them directly attack and destroy infected cells.
Activated B cells
protect the body by producing
plasma cells, daughter cells that secrete antibodies into the blood
(or other body fluids).
Antibodies mark antigens for destruction.
Macrophages
play a crucial role in body protection and the
immune response by phagocytizing foreign substances and by
helping to activate T cells
• reticular cells
• fibroblast-like cells that produce the reticular fiber stroma which is the network that
supports the other cell types in lymphoid organs and tissues
• Lymphoid Tissue

Lymphoid tissue is an important component of the immune

system, mainly because it:
● Houses lymphocytes and provides a site where they can be
activated and proliferate (multiply)
● Furnishes an ideal surveillance vantage point for lymphocytes and macrophages
Lymphoid tissue, largely composed of loose connective tissue called reticular
connective tissue dominates
all the lymphoid organs except the thymus. Macrophages live
on the fibers of the reticular connective tissue network. Huge
numbers of lymphocytes squeeze through the walls of post capillary venules
coursing through this network.
• The lymphocytes temporarily occupy the spaces in the network

• before returning to the bloodstream via the lymphatics so they

• can patrol the body again . The cycling of lymphocytes between the circulatory

vessels, lymphoid tissues, and loose connective tissues of the body ensures that

lymphocytes

• reach infected or damaged sites quickly.

• Lymphoid tissue comes in various “packages”:

• 1-Diffuse lymphoid tissue—a loose arrangement of lymphoid

• cells and some reticular fibers—is found in virtually every

• body organ. Larger collections appear in the lamina propria

• (loose connective tissue, of mucous membranes

• such as those lining the digestive tract.

● Lymphoid follicles (lymphoid nodules) are solid, spherical

• bodies consisting of tightly packed lymphoid cells and reticular fibers. Follicles
often have lighter-staining germinal

• centers where proliferating (rapidly dividing) B cells predominate These centers

• In many cases, the follicles form part of
larger lymphoid organs, such as lymph
nodes.
• However, isolated
• aggregations of lymphoid follicles occur
in the intestinal wall as Peyer’s patches
(aggregated lymphoid nodules) and
• in the appendix
• Lymphoid Organs
• The lymphoid organs are grouped into two
functional categories.

The primary lymphoid organs are where B

and T cells origenate and mature

While both B and T cells originate in the red bone marrow,

B cells mature in the red bone marrow

T cells mature in the thymus.

• The secondary lymphoid organs are where mature lymphocytes first encounter their

antigens and are activated.

• They include the lymph nodes, the spleen, and the collections of

• mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) that form the tonsils, Peyer’s patches

(aggregated lymphoid nodules) in the small intestine, and the appendix.

• Lymphocytes also encounter antigens and are activated in the diffuse lymphoid tissues.

• Although all lymphoid organs help protect the body, only the

• lymph nodes cleanse the lymph. The other secondary lymphoid organs typically have

efferent lymphatics draining them, but lack afferent lymphatics.

• . What are the primary lymphoid organs and what makes
• them special?
• MAKE CONNECTIONS Both B and T cells originate in red bone
• marrow.
• Where do you find red marrow in adults?