Download Lymphatic System Guide

LYMPHATIC SYSTEM GUIDE
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM:
• Works with the circulatory system
Removes waste and excess fluids from
the body tissues
Comprised of:
• Lymph
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• Lymph nodes (glands)
THE LYMPHATIC/IMMUNE SYSTEM:
The system contains:
• Lymph nodes
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• Lymphatic Ducts
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• Thymus
LYMPHATIC STRUCTURES:
• LYMPH:
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• Composed of intercellular or interstitial fluid that forms when plasma
diffuses into tissue spaces
• Composed of water, digested nutrients, salts, hormones, oxygen, carbon
dioxide, lymphocytes, and metabolic wastes such as urea
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• LYMPHATIC VESSELS:
• Located throughout the body in almost all tissues that have blood
vessels
• LYMPHATIC CAPILLARIES:
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• Pick up lymph at tissues throughout the body
• Capillaries join together to form large lymph vessels
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• Contractions of skeletal muscles against lymph vessels causes lymph to
flow through the vessels
* Lymph vessels travel through lymph nodes that contain valves that only
allow lymph to flow one way
LYMPH NODES:
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* Small, round masses ranging in size from a pinhead to an almond
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LYMPH NODES:
Filter lymph and remove impurities such as:
Dead blood cells
LYMPHATIC TISSUE IN NODES:
Produce substances like:
• Lymphocytes:
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As lymphatic vessels leave the lymph nodes, they continue to join
together to form larger lymph vessels
RIGHT LYMPHATIC DUCT:
Short tube:
THORACIC DUCT:
Much larger tube that drains lymph from the rest of the body
LYMPH TISSUE:
Tonsils, spleen, and thymus are examples of lymphatic tissue
TONSILS:
Filter interstitial fluid
Three pairs of tonsils:
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• Lingual tonsils
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SPLEEN:
Destroys old erythrocytes
Stores erythrocytes to release in to the blood stream in excessive
blood loss occurs
Filters some waste
THYMUS:
Atrophies after puberty and is replaced by fat and connective tissue
Functions during early life:
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• Function is taken over by lymph nodes after atrophy
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM:
DISEASES AND DISORDERS
ADENITIS:
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! Occurs when pathogens or cancer cells enter lymph nodes and infect the
tissue
! Symptoms:
! Abscess may form in the node if not treated
! Treatment:
HODGKIN’S DISEASE:
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! Most common form of lymphoma (tumor of lymph tissue)
! Symptoms:
! Painless swelling of lymph nodes
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! Fatigue
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! TREATMENT:
LYMPHANGITIS:
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! Usually occurs from infection in an extremity
! Symptoms:
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! Fever and chills
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! Treatment:
! Rest and elevation of affected part
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SPLENOMEGALY:
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! Causes: Abnormal accumulation of erythrocytes, mononucleosis, and
cirrhosis of the liver
! Symptoms:
! Increased destruction of blood cells can lead to anemia, leukopenia,
and thrombocytopenia
! If spleen ruptures:
! Splenectomy done in severe cases
TONSILITIS:
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! Usually involves the adenoids and palatine tonsils
! Symptoms:
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! White or yellow spots on exudate of tonsils
! Swollen lymph nodes by the mandible
! TREATMENT:
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Warm throat irrigations
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Tonsilectomy in chronic cases