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Anatomy and Structures

The lymphatic system consists of ducts, organs and nodes that transport lymph, a fluid similar to blood plasma, throughout the body. Lymph carries immune cells and returns excess tissue fluid to the bloodstream. It also absorbs fats from the digestive system and transports them to the blood. The primary functions of the lymphatic system are to return excess tissue fluid to the circulation, absorb and transport fats and fat-soluble vitamins, and filter lymph in nodes and organs to remove pathogens and foreign particles.

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Noor Sohaib
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32 views1 page

Anatomy and Structures

The lymphatic system consists of ducts, organs and nodes that transport lymph, a fluid similar to blood plasma, throughout the body. Lymph carries immune cells and returns excess tissue fluid to the bloodstream. It also absorbs fats from the digestive system and transports them to the blood. The primary functions of the lymphatic system are to return excess tissue fluid to the circulation, absorb and transport fats and fat-soluble vitamins, and filter lymph in nodes and organs to remove pathogens and foreign particles.

Uploaded by

Noor Sohaib
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Anatomy and Structures: 

o The Lymphatic system consists of ducts, organs and nodes.


o Lymph is a fluid similar to the composition of blood plasma. When interstitial
fluid enters the lymph capillaries that is when it is called "Lymph".
o Lymph distributes immune cells such as lymphocytes throughout the body.
o Lymphatic vessels only carry fluid away from tissue unlike regular blood
vessels.
o Fluid will run through the system several times successively to cleanse it and
to check for foreign cells.
o Lymphatic organs are characterized by clusters of lymphocytes and other
cells enmeshed in a framework of short branching connecting tissues. There are lymph
nodes and lymph ducts in the connecting tissues.

PHYSIOLOGY:
The lymphatic system has three primary functions. First of all, it returns excess interstitial fluid to the
blood. Of the fluid that leaves the capillary, about 90 percent is returned. The 10 percent that does not
return becomes part of the interstitial fluid that surrounds the tissue cells. Small protein molecules may
"leak" through the capillary wall and increase the osmotic pressure of the interstitial fluid. This further
inhibits the return of fluid into the capillaries, and fluid tends to accumulate in the tissue spaces. If this
continues, blood volume and blood pressure decrease significantly and the volume of tissue fluid
increases, which results in edema (swelling). Lymph capillaries pick up the excess interstitial fluid and
proteins and return them to the venous blood. After the fluid enters the lymph capillaries, it is called
lymph.

The second function of the lymphatic system is the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins from the
digestive system and the subsequent transport of these substances to the venous circulation. The
mucosa that lines the small intestine is covered with fingerlike projections called villi. There are blood
capillaries and special lymph capillaries, called lacteals, in the center of each villus. The blood capillaries
absorb most nutrients, but the fats and fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed by the lacteals. The lymph in the
lacteals has a milky appearance due to its high fat content and is called chyle.

The third and probably most well known function of the lymphatic system is defense against invading
microorganisms and disease. Lymph nodes and other lymphatic organs filter the lymph to remove
microorganisms and other foreign particles. Lymphatic organs contain lymphocytes that destroy invading
organisms.

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