ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY: THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
Online 12 hour CEU Approved by The Texas Massage Therapists Board
Texas DSHS Licensed Online CEU Provider CE 1608 Dan C. PhD EMT LMT MTI Granbury, TX

 

 

TAKE EXAM" or Email minimum 3 page report on the Lymphatic System Study Material you have reviewed to "info@cleanwater4.us" for the 12 hour CEU Certificate

 

VIDEOS

Watch this Introductory Slide Show Introductory Lymphatic System Slide Show

Watch this Detailed Slide Show Detailed Lymphatic System Slide Show

The Lymphatic System

The primary function of the lymphatic system is to transport lymph, a clear, colorless fluid containing white blood cells that helps rid the body of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials.

Lymphatic comes from the Latin word lymphaticus, meaning "connected to water," as lymph is clear.

The lymphatic system, which is a subset of the circulatory system, has a number of functions, including the removal of interstitial fluid, the extracellular fluid that bathes most tissue. It also acts as a highway, transporting white blood cells to and from the lymph nodes into the bones, and antigen-presenting cells to the lymph nodes.

Description of the lymphatic system

The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs that primarily consists of lymph vessels, lymph nodes and lymph. The tonsils, adenoids, spleen and thymus are all part of the lymphatic system.

There are 600 to 700 lymph nodes in the human body that filter the lymph before it returns to the circulatory system.

The spleen, which is largest lymphatic organ, is located on the left side of the body just above the kidney. Humans can live without a spleen, although people who have lost their spleen to disease or injury are more prone to infections.

The thymus, which stores immature lymphocytes and prepares them to become active T cells, is located in the chest just above the heart.

Tonsils are large clusters of lymphatic cells found in the pharynx. Although tonsillectomies occur much less frequently today then they did in the 1950s, it is still among the most common operations performed and typically follows frequent throat infections.

When bacteria are recognized in the lymph fluid, the lymph nodes make more infection-fighting white blood cells, which can cause swelling. The swollen nodes can sometimes be felt in the neck, underarms and groin.

Unlike blood, which flows throughout the body in a continue loop, lymph flows in only one direction – upward toward the neck – within its own system. It flows into the venous blood stream through the subclavien veins, which are located on either sides of the neck near the collarbones.

Plasma leaves the cells once it has delivered its nutrients and removed debris. Most of this fluid returns to the venous circulation through the venules and continues as venous blood. The remainder becomes lymph.

Lymph leaves the tissue and enters the lymphatic system through specialized lymphatic capillaries. About three-quarters of these capillaries are superficial capillaries that are located near the surface of the skin. There are also deep lymphatic capillaries that surround most of the body’s organs.

There are two drainage areas that make up the lymphatic system. The right drainage area handles the right arm and chest. The left drainage area clears all of the other areas of the body, including both legs, the lower trunk, the upper left portion of the chest, and the left arm.

Diseases of the lymphatic system

Diseases and disorders of the lymphatic system are typically treated by immunologists.    Vascular surgeons, dermatologists, oncologists and physiatrists also get involved in treatment of various lymphatic ailments. There are also lymphedema therapists who specialize in the manual drainage of the lymphatic system.

Lymphedema is a chronic swelling of the limbs caused by the accumulation of lymph fluid that occurs if the lymphatic system is damaged or not functioning properly. While the limbs are typically involved, the face, neck and abdomen may also be affected. Many develop the disorder following cancer therapy — particularly breast cancer where the lymph nodes under the arms are removed — recurrent infections, injuries or vascular surgery.

Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of cancer that typically occurs when the white blood cells in the body become diseased or damaged.

Castleman disease is caused by benign tumors that affect the lymph nodes. While not specifically a cancer, it is a similar to a lymphoma and is often treated with chemotherapy. Localized Castleman disease affects the lymph nodes of the stomach and chest. Multicentric Castleman disease affects greater than one region of lymph nodes as well as lymphoid-containing organs such as the spleen.

Lymphangiomatosis is a disease involving multiple cysts or lesions formed from lymphatic vessels.

In elephantiasis, infection of the lymphatic vessels causes a thickening of the skin and enlargement of underlying tissues, especially in the legs and genitals.

Lymphangiosarcoma is a malignant soft-tissue tumor, whereas lymphangioma is a benign tumor occurring frequently in association with Turner syndrome.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is a benign tumor of the smooth muscles of the lymphatics in the lungs.

Lymphoid leukemias and lymphomas are called "leukemia" when in the blood or marrow and "lymphoma" when in lymphatic tissue.

Lymphatic filiaris is a disease in which parasitic worms infiltrate the lymph system via the bite of a mosquito. About 120 million people worldwide are affected by this disease.

THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM IS COOPERATIVE

Major lymphatic ducts.

• The lymphatic system aids the immune system in removing and destroying waste, debris, dead blood cells, pathogens, toxins, and cancer cells.
• The lymphatic system absorbs fats and fat-soluble vitamins from the digestive system and delivers these nutrients to the cells of the body where they are used by the cells.
• The lymphatic system also removes excess fluid, and waste products from the interstitial spaces between the cells.

THE TRANSFORMATION

Arterial blood carries oxygen, nutrients, and hormones for the cells. To reach these cells it leaves the small arteries and flows into the tissues. This fluid is now known as interstitial fluid and it delivers its nourshing products to the cells. Then it leaves the cell and removes waste products.

After this task is complete, 90% of this fluid returns to the circulatory system as venous blood.

WHAT IS LYMPH?

The remaining 10% of the fluid that stays behind in the tissues as a clear to yellowish fluid known as lymph.

• Unlike blood, which flows throughout the body in a continue loop, lymph flows in only one direction within its own system. This flow is only upward toward the neck. Here, it flows into the venous blood stream through the subclavien veins which are located on either sides of the neck near the collarbones.
• After plasma has delivered its nutrients and removed debris, it leaves the cells. 90% of this fluid returns to the venous circulation through the venules and continues as venous blood.
• The remaining 10% of this fluid becomes lymph which is a watery fluid that contains waste products. This waste is protein-rich due to the undigested proteins that were removed from the cells.

LYMPHATIC CIRCULATION

The lymph is moved through the body in its own vessels making a one-way journey from the interstitial spaces to the subclavian veins at the base of the neck.

• Since the lymphatic system does not have a heart to pump it, its upward movement depends on the motions of the muscle and joint pumps.
• As it moves upward toward the neck the lymph passes through lymph nodes which filter it  to remove debris and pathogens. 
• The cleansed lymph continues to travel in only one direction, which is upward toward the neck.
• At the base of the neck, the cleansed lymph flows into the subclavian veins on either side of the neck. 

Lymph returning to the subclavian veins.

THE ORIGIN OF LYMPH

Lymph originates as plasma (the fluid portion of blood). The arterial blood, which flows out of the heart, slows as it moves through a capillary bed. This slowing allows some plasma to leave the arterioles (small arteries) and flow into the tissues where it becomes tissue fluid.

• Also known as extracellular fluid, this is fluid that flows between the cells but is not into the cells. This fluid delivers nutrients, oxygen, and hormones to the cells.
• As this fluid leaves the cells, it takes with it cellular waste products and protein cells.
• Approximately 90% of this tissue fluid flows into the small veins. Here it enters the venous circulation as plasma and continues in the circulatory system.
• The remaining 10% of the fluid that is left behind is known as lymph.

LYMPHATIC CAPILLARIES

In order to leave the tissues, the lymph must enter the lymphatic system through specialized lymphatic capillaries. Approximately 70% of these are superficial capillaries located near, or just under, the skin. The remaining 30%, which are known as deep lymphatic capillaries, surround most of the body’s organs.

Lymphatic capillaries begin as blind-ended tubes that are only a single cell in thickness. These cells are arranged in a slightly overlapping pattern, much like the shingles on a roof. Each of these individual cells is fastened to nearby tissues by an anchoring filament.

LYMPHATIC VESSELS

The lymphatic capillaries gradually join together to form a mesh-like network of tubes that are located deeper in the body.

• As they become larger, and deeper, these structures become lymphatic vessels.
• Deeper within the body the lymphatic vessels become progressively larger and are located near major blood veins.
• Like veins, the lymphatic vessels, which are known as lymphangions, have one-way valves to prevent any backward flow.
• Smooth muscles in the walls of the lymphatic vessels cause the angions to contract sequentially to aid the flow of lymph upward toward the thoracic region. Because of their shape, these vessels are previously referred to as a string of pearls.

LYMPH NODES 

Lymph nodes kill pathogens and cancer cells. They also remove debris and excess fluids.

There are between 600-700 lymph nodes present in the average human body. It is the role of these nodes to filter the lymph before it can be returned to the circulatory system. Although these nodes can increase or decrease in size throughout life, any nodes that has been damaged or destroyed, does not regenerate.

• Afferent lymphatic vessels carry unfiltered lymph into the node. Here waste products, and some of the fluid, are filtered out.
• In another section of the node, lymphocytes, which are specialized white blood cells, kill any pathogens that may be present. This causes the swelling commonly known as swollen glands.
• Lymph nodes also trap and destroy cancer cells to slow the spread of the cancer until they are overwhelmed by it.
• Efferent lymphatic vessels carry the filtered lymph out of the node so that it can continue its return to the circulatory system.

DRAINAGE AREAS

Lymphatic system drainage is organized into two separate, and very unequal drainage areas. The right drainage area clears the right arm and chest. The left drainage area clears all of the other areas of the body including both legs, the lower trunk upper left of the chest, and the left arm.

Lymphatic Drainage Areas

Detailed Lymphatic System Interactive Review.

This review will take over 8 hours approximately and you should be ready for the exam after this

WHY THIS INFORMATION IS SO IMPORTANT

• Damage disturbs the flow. When lymphatic tissues or lymph nodes have been damaged, destroyed or removed, lymph cannot drain normally from the affected area. When this happens excess lymph accumulates and results in the swelling that is characteristic of lymphedema.

 

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TAKE EXAM" or Email minimum 3 page report on Lymphatic System Material reviewed to "info@cleanwater4.us" for 12 hour CEU Certificate

 

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