LYMPHATIC SYTEM

VOCABULARY

• Lymph
• Vessels
• Capillaries
• Ducts
• Lacteals
• Nodes

The lymphatic system consists of lymph, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, and lymphatic tissue. The system works in conjunction with the circulatory system to remove wastes and excess fluids from tissues.

Lymph is a thin, watery fluid composed of intercellular fluid which forms when plasma diffuses into tissue spaces.

Lymphatic vessels are located throughout the body in almost all tissues that have blood vessels. Small open ended lymph vessels act like drainpipes and are called lymphatic capillaries.

Lacteals, specialized capillaries, pick up directed fats or lipids. When lymph mixes lipids it is called chyle.

Lymph nodes, or glands, are located all over the body. They are small, round, or oval masses. They filter and remove impurities from lymph.

Eventually these vessels drain into one of two ducts. The right lymphatic duct or the thoracic duct. At the start of the thoracic duct, an enlarged pouch like structure called the cisterna chyli serves as a storage area for purified lymph.

There are 3 kinds of tonsils. Palatine- located on each side of soft palate
Pharyngeal- in nasopharynx
Lingual- back of the tongue

The spleen is an organ located beneath the left side of the diaphragm and in the back of the upper part of the stomach. It produces Leukocytes and antibodies.
The thymus is a mass of lymph tissue located in the center of the upper chest. It disappears after puberty. In early life it fights infection.

Adenitis
An inflammation or infection of the lymph nodes.
Hodgkin's disease
A chronic malignant disease of the lymph nodes

Lymphangitis
Inflammation of lymphatic vessels.
Splenomegaly
Enlargement of the spleen.
Tonsillitis
Inflammation or infection of the tonsils.