Lymphatic System Anatomy PDF

Anatomy of the Circulatory systems 3 Lymphatic System Niggy Gouldsborough  Lymphatic System Consists of – Network of lymph vessels – Lymph – Lymphatic tissues and organs Functions – Involved in the body’s defence mechanisms – Provides a mechanism for the d...

Anatomy of the Circulatory systems 3 Lymphatic System Niggy Gouldsborough  Lymphatic System Consists of – Network of lymph vessels – Lymph – Lymphatic tissues and organs Functions – Involved in the body’s defence mechanisms – Provides a mechanism for the drainage of interstitial fluid (Martini et al, 2018)  Interstitial fluid Arteriole capillary Venule Fluid moves from the arterial end of Fluid moves from the interstitial space the capillary into the interstitial space back into the capillary at the venous end In the capillary the fluid is termed plasma, in the interstitial space it is called interstitial fluid  Capillary exchange Capillary blood pressure (CPB) pushes fluid out of the capillary into the interstitial fluid (taking nutrients, gases etc) - filtration Blood colloid osmotic pressure (BCOP) pulls fluid back into capillary (bringing wastes, gases etc) – reabsorption - BCOP is mainly due to plasma proteins CBP decreases with progression along capillary BCOP remains constant CPB CPB CPB CPB CPB Arterial end Venous end BCOP BCOP BCOP BCOP BCOP  Capillary exchange CBP is greater than BCOP at the arterial end → filtration BCOP is greater than CBP at the venous end → reabsorption CPB CPB CPB CPB CPB Arterial end Venous end BCOP BCOP BCOP BCOP BCOP Approximately 85% of fluid is reabsorbed The remainder must be removed from the interstitial space otherwise oedema will result  Capillary exchange CPB CPB CPB CPB CPB Arterial end Venous end BCOP BCOP BCOP BCOP BCOP lymphatic capillary The remaining 15% is picked up by the lymphatic capillaries  Removal of excess interstitial fluid Lymph capillaries are blind ended tubes that are located adjacent to capillary beds The excess interstitial fluid enters the lymphatic capillary and is called lymph Lymph passes through the lymphatic circulation and returns to the blood system  Lymphatic drainage lymph capillaries right lymphatic duct lymph vessels thoracic duct lymph nodes lymph trunks thoracic duct or right lymphatic duct  Lymphatic drainage right lymphatic duct thoracic duct drains lymph from the right drains lymph from the side of head & thorax and remainder of the body right upper limb) right subclavian vein left subclavian vein therefore lymph re-enters the blood vascular circulation (Martini et al, 2018)