Lymph

ZANZIBAR SCHOOL OF HEALTH
Module name; . Human anatomy

Module code CMT04102;.
Topic; lymph part 1
Presenter; DR L.J. lwegasila(MD
Lymph and Lymphatic System
• By the end of this session, students are expected
to be able to:
• Explain organization of lymphatic system
• Explain structure lymphatic system
• Recognize lymphatic drainage
• Describe structure and functions of lymph nodes
• Recognize location of lymph nodes
• Describe the structure and functions of other
lymphoid tissue
Organization of Lymphatic System
• Lymphatic system: A network of tissue,

organs, and vessels that help to maintain the
body’s fluid balance, cleanse the body fluid of
foreign matter and provide immune cells for
defence.
Composition of Lymphatic System
• Lymph, the fluid that the system collects from the
interstitial spaces of the tissue and returns to the
bloodstream.
• Lymphatic plexuses, networks of small lymphatic
vessels, lymphatic capillaries, that originate in the
extracellular spaces of most tissues.
• Lymphatic vessels (lymphatics), a nearly body wide
network of thin-walled vessels with abundant valves,
originating from lymphatic plexuses along which
lymph nodes are located.
Composition of Lymphatic System cont…
• Lymphatic vessels occur almost everywhere

blood capillaries are found, except, for
example, teeth, bone, bone marrow, and the
entire central nervous system (excess fluid
here drains into the cerebrospinal fluid).
• Lymph nodes, small masses of lymphatic
tissue through which lymph is filtered on its
way to the venous system
Composition of Lymphatic System cont…
• Lymphocytes, circulating cells of the immune

system that react against foreign materials.
• Lymphoid tissue, sites that produce
lymphocytes, such as that found in the walls
of the digestive tract; in the spleen, thymus,
and lymph nodes; and in myeloid tissue in red
bone marrow.
Composition of Lymphatic System cont….
• Lymphatic vessels resemble veins in structure

with these exceptions.
o Lymphatics vessels have thinner walls.
o Lymphatics vessels contain more valves.
o Lymphatics vessels contain lymph nodes
located at certain intervals along their course.
• The lymphoid tissue is primarily involved in

immune responses, and consists of
lymphocytes and other white blood cells
enmeshed in connective tissue through which
the lymph passes.
• Lymphoid tissue can either be structurally well
organized as lymph nodes or may consist of
loosely organized lymphoid follicles known as
the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue
• The lymphatic system differs from the

circulatory system in that the lymphatic do not
form a closed ring or circuit.
• Instead, begin blindly in the intercellular
spaces of the soft tissues of the body.
• Specialized lymphatic organs are the tonsils,
thymus, and spleen.
Functions of Lymphatic System
• Lymphatic system plays a critical role in homeostasis.
• Importance of the lymphatic system are
o Maintenance of fluid balance in the internal
environment
o Immunity
• The high degree of lymphatic capillary permeability
permits large molecular weight
• substances which cannot be absorbed by the blood
capillary to be removed from the interstitial spaces.
Functions of Lymphatic System cont…
• Proteins that accumulate in the interstitial spaces
can return to the blood only via lymphatic vessels.
• Absorption and transport of dietary fat, in which
special lymphatic capillaries (lacteals)
• receive all absorbed fat (chyle) from the intestine
and convey it through the thoracic duct to the
venous system.
• Formation of a defense mechanism for the body.
• When foreign protein drains from an infected
area, antibodies specific to the protein are
produced by immunologically competent cells
and/or lymphocytes and dispatched to the
infected area.
• Lacteals (lymphatics in the villi of the small
intestine) serve an important function in the
absorption of fats and other nutrients.
• Lacteals (lymphatics in the villi of the small
intestine) serve an important function in the
absorption of fats and other nutrients.
• Plasma filters into the interstitial spaces from
blood flowing through the capillaries.
• Much of this interstitial fluid is absorbed by
tissue cells or reabsorbed by the blood before it
flows out of the tissue.
• A small amount of interstitial fluid is left behind.
• If this would continue over even a brief period
of time, the increased interstitial fluid would
cause massive oedema.
• This oedema would causes tissue destruction
or death.
• This problem is avoided by the presence of
lymphatic vessels that act as ‘drains’ to collect
the excess fluid and return it to the venous
blood just before it reaches the heart.
Lymphatic Drainage
Lymphatic Drainage
• Lymph has a composition comparable to that
of plasma, but it is different in various parts of
the body depending upon the tissue drained.
• In particular, the lymph that leaves a lymph
node is richer in lymphocytes.
Routes for Drainage
• Right lymphatic ducts
o Receive lymph from the right upper quadrant and
drains into the right subclavian vein.
• Thoracic duct
o Lymph from the entire body except for the right
upper quadrant drains into the
thoracic duct which drains into the left internal
jugular vein.
o Originates as a dilated structure the cisterna chyli in
the lumbar region of the abdominal cavity
Routes for Drainage cont…
• From lymphatic capillaries, lymph flows
through progressively larger lymphatic vessels
to eventually re-enter blood at the junction of
the internal jugular and subclavian veins.
References
• Capillary microcirculation. (2010). Retrieved March 24, 2010 from:
http://training.seer.cancer.gov/.
• Lymph Schematic Diagram of Lymph Node. (2010). Retrieved March 24, 2010 from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/
• Lymphatic Capillaries in the Tissue Spaces. (2010). Retrieved March, 24, 2010 from:
http://training.seer.cancer.gov/
• Moore, K. L., & Agur, A. M. R. (2007). Essential Clinical Anatomy. (3rd ed.). Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins.
• Seeley, R. R., Stephens, T. D., & Tate, P. (2003). Anatomy and Physiology. New York:
McGraw-Hill.
• Shier, A., Butler, J., & Lewis, R. (2004). Hole’s Human Anatomy & Physiology. New
York: McGraw-Hill.
• Thibodeau, G. A., & Patton, K. T. (1999). Anatomy & Physiology. Saint Louis: Mosby,
Von Hoffman Press, Inc.
• Waugh, A., & Grant, A. (2006). Ross and Willson Anatomy and physiology in Health
and illness. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elservier

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ZANZIBAR SCHOOL OF HEALTH

Module name; . Human anatomy

• Lymphatic system: A network of tissue,

• Lymphatic vessels occur almost everywhere

• Lymphocytes, circulating cells of the immune

• Lymphatic vessels resemble veins in structure

• The lymphoid tissue is primarily involved in

• The lymphatic system differs from the

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