Download Lymphatic System

Lymphatic System
Allied Health I
How important is the
Lymphatic System?
Lymph
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Straw-colored, similar
to plasma.
Lymph fluid =
Interstitial fluid – in
spaces between cells.
Fluid is composed of
H²O, O², lymphocytes,
nutrients, etc, but not
RBCs or plasma
proteins (too big).
Lymph Vessels
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Closely parallel veins.
Located in almost all
tissues & organs that
have blood vessels.
Thoracic duct = largest
lymph vessel.
Human lymphatic system
Lymph Nodes
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Tiny, oval shaped, size
of pinhead to size of
almond.
Lymph nodes can be
located alone or in
groups.
Tonsils
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Located in throat
(pharynx)
Adenoids = tonsils
in upper part of
throat.
Tonsils get smaller
as a person ages.
Spleen
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Sac-like, mass of
lymphatic tissue.
Lives in the  left
abdominal cavity,
just below the
diaphragm.
Thymus
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Located in the 
anterior chest,
above the heart.
Functions of the Structures
of the Lymphatic System
Lymph = fluid that moves out of
capillaries and into tissues.
 This fluid carries nutrients, O², &
hormones to cells.
 Also carries waste back to capillaries.
 Skeletal muscle action squeezes
lymph along lymph vessels.
 Lymph fluid = Interstitial fluid
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Function of Lymph Vessels
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Transport excess tissue
fluid back into blood
(general circulation).
Lymph vessels have
valves.
Lymph flows in lymph
vessels in only one
direction.
Lymph travels from
body organs & tissues
& is then dumped back
into the blood near the
heart.
Function of Lymph Vessels
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Interstitial fluid enters small lymph vessels &
is now called lymph.
Lymph fluid in small vessels → larger
vessels (lymphatics) → Thoracic Duct or ®
lymphatic duct → left or ® subclavian vein
→ Superior Vena Cava → Heart.
Lymph flows because skeletal muscles are
squeezing on the lymph vessels.
Thoracic and ® Lymphatic
Vessels
Lymph node functions

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Produce
lymphocytes.
Filter harmful
bacteria & cancer
cells.
Swell in response to
fighting a certain
substance
(bacteria/cancer).
Function of Tonsils
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Tonsils are
masses of
lymphatic tissue.
Tonsils filter
bacteria & produce
lymphocytes.
Tonsils help keep
the pharynx &
respiratory tract
healthy.
Function of the Spleen
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Sac-like mass of
lymphatic tissue.
Forms lymphocytes &
monocytes.
Filters Blood
Stores large amounts of
RBCs – contracts when
needed to provide extra
RBCs.
Destroys & removes old
RBCs – Recycles.
Function of the Thymus
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Where T-Lymphocytes
mature.
This is where
lymphocytes
specialize.
Also functions as an
endocrine gland.
Atrophies in early
adulthood.
http://www.pennmedici
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Immunity
The body’s ability to resist invasion
from pathogens & disease.
 Two general types of immunity:

Natural
 Acquired

Natural Immunity

You are born with it.
Unbroken skin
 Mucus & tears
 Blood phagocytes
 Local inflammation

Acquired Immunity
Body’s reaction to invaders
(Bacteria/Virus)
 Two types of acquired immunity:

Passive acquired immunity – from
injecting antibodies, only last a short
time (Flu shot), mother provides
newborn with some passive immunity.
 Active acquired immunity – Lasts
longer, can get it two different ways.

Active acquired immunity
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Two ways to get it:
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Natural active acquired –
result of having had &
recovered from a disease.
Your body makes its own
antibodies. Ex. Chicken
Pox, Measles
http://resources.schoolscience.co.uk/ABPI/im
mune/immAnim2.htm
Artificial active acquired –
Immunity comes from
being vaccinated.
http://resources.schoolscience.co.uk/ABPI/im
mune/immAnim3.htm
Vaccine = Immunization

Antigen injected
into a person to
stimulate production
of antibodies.

http://www.pennmedicine.org/encyclo
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Immunity
Immunity
Natural
Passive
Acquired
Active
Natural
Artificial
Tonsillitis
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Tonsils become
infected & enlarged.
Difficulty swallowing.
Tonsillectomy in
extreme cases.
http://www.waent.org/archives
/2009/vol2-1/tonsillectomybleeding/scalpel-cauterytonsillectomy-video/scalpelcautery-video.htm
Lymphadenitis (adenitis)
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Swelling or
enlargement of
lymph nodes.
Present when body
makes WBCs to
fight infection /
disease.
Hodgkin’s Disease
Cancer of the lymph nodes.
 Early symptom = painless swelling of
lymph nodes. Also: fatigue, fever,
chills, night sweats, wt loss.
 Diagnosis = biopsy of enlarged lymph
node.
 Treatment = Radiation,
Chemotherapy, possible Bone Marrow
Transplant.

Enlarged Lymph Nodes
Mononucleosis
Mononucleosis
Caused by virus. (Epstein-Barr virus)
 Usually young adults & children.
 Spread by oral contact. (Saliva)
 Symptoms = lymphadenitis, fever,
fatigue, leukocytes.
 Treatment = Bed-rest.
 Most people have been exposed to
the virus by age 35 & have immunity.
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Hypersensitivity
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Abnormal response to
something (allergen).
Antibodies are made in
response to allergen
(antigen that causes
allergic responses).
Example of allergens
are: peanut butter,
bee stings, penicillin.
These antibodies
irritate our body cells.
Anaphylaxis (Anaphylactic
Shock)
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Severe or fatal allergic reaction.
Symptoms = breathing problems,
headache, facial swelling,  BP, stomach
cramps, vomiting.
Treatment = Epinephrine kit (EpiPen).
Epinephrine (adrenaline) signals the heart
to pump harder, increasing blood pressure,
opening airways in the lungs, narrowing
blood vessels in the skin and intestine to
increase blood flow to major muscle groups.
Medic Alert Bracelet

Those prone to
Anaphylaxis
should wear
medic alert
bracelet.
HIV
By damaging or destroying the cells of
your immune system, HIV interferes
with your body's ability to effectively
fight off disease. This makes you
more susceptible to certain types of
cancers and to opportunistic infections
your body would normally resist.
 http://health.howstuffworks.com/aids3.
htm
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HIV
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Chronic, life-threatening condition
HIV destroys your helper T cells (CD4 lymphocytes) —
the white blood cells that coordinate your entire
immune system.
When first infected you may have flu-like symptoms:
fever, headache, sore throat, swollen lymph glands
and rash – but these symptoms are similar to lots of
other things so you might not realize it is actually HIV.
There are Three responses to HIV:
 Asymptomatic infection
 ARC
 AIDS
Asymptomatic infection
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Person has HIV but no symptoms.
Even though you don’t have symptoms you
are still able to transmit the virus to others.
You may remain symptom-free for eight or
nine years or more. But as the virus
continues to multiply and destroy immune
cells, you may develop mild infections or
chronic symptoms which would mean you
have progressed to AIDS Related Complex.
ARC
Start to get symptoms but not life
threatening diseases.
 Swollen lymph nodes — often one of
the first signs of HIV infection
 Diarrhea
 Weight loss
 Fever
 Cough and shortness of breath
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AIDS
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Your immune system is severely damaged.
Opportunistic infections – infection that a healthy
person would fight off.
Symptoms of AIDS:
 Fatigue
 Fever, night sweats
 Dry cough, shortness of breath
 White spots/thick coating on tongue/throat
 Chronic diarrhea
 Lymphadenopathy
 Wt loss
 Bruising
 Cancers
How is HIV Spread?
Sexual contact
 Sharing needles
 Born to an infected mother
 Open area of skin comes in contact
with blood or body fluids containing
HIV
 Blood transfusions before 1985
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HIV can’t be spread by:
Casual contact
 Through air, feces, food, urine, or
water.
 Coughing, sneezing, embracing,
shaking hands, or sharing eating
utensils.
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Prevention of HIV
Educate yourself and others.
 Don’t have sex.
 Don’t use drugs.
 Avoid all risky behavior that may
cause you to come into contact with
HIV.
 Use Standard Precautions.
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Standard Precautions
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Guidelines to be used in patient care setting
when you might come in contact with blood
or body fluids.
Use PPEs (Personal protective equipment).
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Gloves
Gowns
Mask
Eyewear
Faceshield
Do’s and Don’ts
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Don’t let equipment or dirty linen touch your clothes.
Don’t recap needles.
Don’t do mouth to mouth.
DO use a barrier device.
DO dispose of all sharps in a Sharps
Container.
HIV Patients
Sometimes treated as outcasts.
 Healthcare workers should be
supportive.
 Use of gloves for normal patient
contact is not necessary.
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Reported HIV, acquired
while working in Healthcare
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Healthcare personnel with documented acquired
AIDS/HIV infection, by occupation, as of December
2002.
Nurse 24
Laboratory worker/clinical 16
Physician 6
Laboratory technician/nonclinical 3
Housekeeper/maintenance worker 2
Technician/surgical 2
Embalmer/morgue technician 1
Health aide/attendant 1
Respiratory therapist 1
Technician/dialysis1