Lymphatic System
and Immunity
The Lymphatic System and Immunity
Functions and Structures:
1. LYMPH- watery fluid that goes between capillary blood and
tissues
- transports pathogens to lymph nodes where they can be
destroyed
- INTERSTITIAL FLUID filters out of capillaries into the
microscopic spaces between cells
2. LYMPH VESSELS- transport excess tissue fluid back into
circulatory system.
3. LYMPH NODES- produce lymphocytes, filter out harmful
bacteria.
Structures of the lymphatic system
Lymph vessels
• closely parallel
veins
• transport lymph
2.03 Remember the stuctures of the
lymphatic system
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Structures of the lymphatic system
Lymph vessels parallel to blood vessels
2.03 Remember the stuctures of the
lymphatic system
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Structures of the lymphatic system
Lymph vessels
• Lacteals
• Specialized
lymph
vessels in the
small
intestines…in
each villi
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lymphatic system
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Structures of the lymphatic system
Lymph vessels
•
Lymphatic ducts
• Large lymph vessels
• Thoracic duct
• Also called the left
lymphatic duct
• receives lymph from
the left side…empties
into left subclavian
vein
• Right lymphatic duct
• Lymph flows only in one
direction
2.03 Remember the stuctures of the
lymphatic system
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Structures of the
lymphatic system
Lymph nodes
•
•
•
•
•
tiny, oval-shaped structures
range in size from a pinhead to an
almond
Act as filters
Located alone or grouped – large
cluster in the neck and under the
arms
If substance can’t be destroyed,
node becomes inflamed
Lymph node
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lymphatic system
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Structures of the
lymphatic system
Tonsils
•
•
3 pairs
masses of lymphatic
tissue
1.
Palatine tonsils
•
sides of throat
2. Adenoids
•
upper throat
3. Lingual tonsils
•
back of tongue
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lymphatic system
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Structures of the
lymphatic system
Spleen
•Spongy organ in the upper-left
quadrant of abdomen
•Forms lymphocytes and monocytes
• Filters blood
• Stores large amounts of RBCs –
contracts during vigorous exercise or
loss of blood to release RBCs
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Spleen continued…..
•Destroys or removes old, fragile
RBCs
•Not an essential organ…more
needed in children
•If injured (blunt force trauma) may
cause internal bleeding due to rich
blood supply
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Structures of the
lymphatic system
Thymus gland
•
•
•
located in the upper,
anterior chest
also an endocrine
gland
“disappearing gland”
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lymphatic system
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The Lymphatic System
What are the functions of the lymphatic system?
1. Fluid Balance
2. Lymphocyte Production
3. Filtration
4. Immunity
2.04 Understand the functions and
disorders of the lymphatic system
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The Lymphatic System
Fluid balance
a)
returning fluid from the interstitial
compartment to the bloodstream
b)
transferring excess water from the
bloodstream to the tissue fluid
c)
compensating for hypovolemia by
releasing stored fluid to the tissues
d)
compensating for hypervolemia by
absorbing and storing excess fluid
____
Fluid
IN
____
Fluid
OUT
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The Lymphatic System
Lymphocyte production

What are lymphocytes?

What do they do?
2.04 Understand the functions and
disorders of the lymphatic system
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The Lymphatic System
Filtration

Lymph nodes filter fluid to remove
pathogens…fluid then delivered to other
lymphatic vessels.
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The Lymphatic System
Immunity
___________________
The body’s ability
___________________
___________________
to resist pathogens
Natural Immunity
_______________________
Present at birth,
_______________________
_______________________
inherited and
_______________________
permanent
_______________________
Acquired Immunity
_____________________
The body’s response
_____________________
_____________________
to a pathogen
_____________________
_____________________
Passive Acquired Immunity
____________________________
Artifically acquired by
____________________________
injecting antibodies…lasts 3-5
____________________________
weeks…immediate immunity
____________________________
________
Active Acquired Immunity
____________________________
____________________________
Lasts
longer…your body
____________________________
responds
to a pathogen
____________________________
__________________________
Natural Acquired Immunity
____________________________
Result of recovering
____________________________
from a disease
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
Artificial Acquired Immunity
____________________________
Being vaccinated / immunized
____________________________
(antigen injected to stimulate
____________________________
production of antibodies)
____________________________
______________
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The Lymphatic System
Natural immunity

(Innate) – at birth, inherited and permanent.

Includes anatomical barriers:
•
Unbroken skin
Mucus and tears
Blood phagocytes
Local inflammation
•
•
•
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The Lymphatic System
Acquired immunity: Active and Passive

Occurs as a result of exposure to invaders
- Lasts longer…two types
2.04 Understand the functions and
disorders of the lymphatic system
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The Lymphatic System
Acquired immunity: Active



Natural
A result of having had and recovered from a disease.
For example: a child who had measles will usually not
get it again – child’s body has manufactured
antibodies against disease
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disorders of the lymphatic system
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The Lymphatic System
Acquired immunity: Passive
Natural – baby gets from mother’s placenta
or mother’s milk
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lymphatic system
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The Lymphatic System
Acquired immunity: Active
Artificial
 Natural

2.04 Understand the functions and
disorders of the lymphatic system
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The Lymphatic System
Acquired immunity
Active Artificial
Should immunizations be
required?
Why or why not?
2.04 Understand the functions and
disorders of the lymphatic system
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HYPERSENSITIVITY
•When the body’s immune system fails to protect
itself against foreign material, and instead, the
antibodies formed irritate certain body cells.
• An abnormal response to a drug or allergen.
• An ALLERGEN is an antigen that causes allergic
reaction responses. (Examples of allergens –
ragweed, penicillin, bee stings, foods,etc.)
2.03 Remember the stuctures of the
lymphatic system
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The Lymphatic System
Anaphylactic shock
• Severe, sometimes fatal allergic reaction
• Antigen-antibody reaction stimulates a
 massive secretion of histamine
• Symptoms – breathing problems,
headache, facial swelling, falling blood
pressure, stomach cramps, and vomiting
• Rx - adrenaline
• Needs to wear a medic-alert bracelet / tag
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The Lymphatic System
AIDS
•
•
•
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Caused by HTLV-III (human Tlymphotrophic virus type III) Commonly
caused HIV or Human Immunodeficiency
Virus.
Affects not only homosexual males but all
populations
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disorders of the lymphatic system
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•
•
•
The patient with AIDS cannot fight off
cancers and most infections
Three responses to HIV infection:
1.
AIDS
2.
ARC (AIDS – related complex)
3.
Asymptomatic infection
Screening tests (anonymous) for
HIV/AIDS are available
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Symptoms of AIDS
10.
Prolonged fatigue
Persistent fevers or night sweats
Persistent, unexplained cough
Thick coating in throat or on tongue
Easy bruising, unexplained bleeding
Appearance of purple lesions on mucous membranes or skin that
don’t go away
Chronic diarrhea
Shortness of breath
Unexplained lymphadenopathy
Unexplained weight loss, 10lbs or more, in less than 2 months

Incubation period: 1 month to 12 years
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
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The Lymphatic System
Hodgkin’s Disease

cancer of the lymph nodes,
painless swelling of lymph nodes
are early symptoms.

Rx – chemotherapy and
radiation
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The Lymphatic System
Infectious mononucleosis
• Caused by virus
• Frequently in young adults and children
• Spread by oral contact ( i.e. kissing, drinking after
someone)
• Symptoms – enlarged lymph nodes, fever, physical
and mental fatigue,  Leukocytes
• Rx – bedrest, symptomatic treatment
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The Lymphatic System
Lupus erythematosus
What is the classic symptom of
lupus?
What other symptoms might
present?
How is lupus managed?
What is the prognosis?
2.04 Understand the functions and
disorders of the lymphatic system
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The Lymphatic System
Lymphadenitis
What is it?
Lymph aden itis

LYMPHADENITIS – enlargement of the
lymph nodes, occurs when infection is present
and body is attempting to fight off the infection
– generalized enlargement
2.04 Understand the functions and
disorders of the lymphatic system
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The Lymphatic System
Lymphedema
Lymphatic obstruction is a
blockage of the lymph vessels that
drain fluid from tissues throughout
the body and allow immune cells
to travel where they are needed.
Lymphatic obstruction may cause
lymphedema, which means
swelling due to a blockage of the
lymph passages.
Photo used with written permission by the Mayo Clinic.
2.04 Understand the functions and
disorders of the lymphatic system
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The Lymphatic System
Scleroderma
Scleroderma is a connective tissue disease that involves
changes in the skin, blood vessels, muscles, and
internal organs.
Autoimmune disorder, a condition that occurs when the
immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys
healthy body tissue.
Symptoms:







Fingers or toes that turn blue or white in response to hot and cold
temperatures
Hair loss
Skin hardness
Skin that is abnormally dark or light
Skin thickening, stiffness, and tightness of fingers, hands, and forearm
Tight and mask-like skin on the face
Joint pain
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The Lymphatic System
Tonsillitis
Inflammation of the tonsils due to
bacterial or viral infection
Treatment: antibiotics if
bacterial
2.04 Understand the functions and
disorders of the lymphatic system
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