Health Science I
Structures of Lymphatic System
 Lymph Fluid
 Lymphatic Vessels
 Lymph Nodes
 Tonsils
 Spleen
 Thymus
Lymph Fluid
 go-between for capillaries and tissue
 Straw colored similar to plasma
 AKA Interstitial fluid
 Composed of H2O, lymphocytes, some granulocytes,
O2, digested nutrients, hormones, salts, CO2 and urea
 Doesn’t contain RBC’s or protein
Lymph Fluid con’t
 Carries digested food, O2 and hormones to cells and
carries wastes back to capillaries for excretion
 Skeletal muscle squeezes and moves fluid
 Valves prevent back flow
Lymph Vessels
 Accompany and closely parallel veins
 Located in almost all tissues and organs that have
blood vessels
 Tissue lymph enters small lymph vessels which drain
into larger vessels called lymphatics
 They then flow into one of two large, main lymphatics
 Thoracic duct aka left lymphatic duct
 Right lymphatic duct
 Flows in one direction, toward the heart
Lymphatic Ducts
 Thoracic duct(largest lymphatic vessel) receives lymph
fluid from the left side of the chest, head, neck,
abdominal area and lower limbs  left subclavian vein
 superior vena cava  heart
 Right lymphatic duct receives lymph fluid from the
right arm, right side of the head and upper trunk
right subclavian superior vena cava heart
Lymph Nodes
 Tiny oval shaped structures ranging from pinhead to
almond size
 Located alone or in groups
 Site for lymphocyte production and filtering harmful
substances (bacteria or cancer cells)
 If substance can’t be destroyed, node becomes
inflamed---called adenitis
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Tonsils- get smaller with age
 Masses of lymphatic tissue that produce lymphocytes
and filter bacteria, shrink as we age
 Three pairs of tonsils
 Palatine- sides the soft palate
 Adenoids- upper part of the throat
 Lingual- back of the tongue
Spleen
 Sac-like mass of lymphatic tissue
 Located in the LUQ just below diaphragm
 Forms lymphocytes and monocytes
 Stores large amounts of RBC’s
 During excessive bleeding spleen contracts releasing
RBC’s into circulation
 Destroys and removes old RBC’s
Thymus
 Located in upper anterior part of the thorax above the
heart
 Produces lymphocytes
 Also considered an endocrine gland because it secretes
a hormone to produce lymph cells
Functions of the Lymphatic System
 Fluid balance
 Filtration
 Lymphocyte production
 Immunity
Fluid Balance
 Transports excess tissue fluid back into circulatory
system
 Why is this important? To get rid of the fluid to
prevent life-threatening
conditions.
Fluid
IN
Fluid
OUT
Filtration
 Occurs in lymph nodes
 Filters out bacteria, cancer cells, viruses etc.
 How does filtration affect the lymphatic system?
to detect and remove bacteria
filtration removes excess
fluid.
Lymphocyte Production
 Occurs in the spleen, thymus and nodes
 Lymphocytes help the body fight against disease and
germs
 A type of WBC that synthesizes and releases
antibodies
 Why is this important to our health? Protection for the
body.
Immunity
 The body’s ability to resist bacterial invasion and
disease
 2 types of immunity
 Natural- at birth, inherited and permanent

Ex- unbroken skin, local inflammation, mucus, tears, blood
phagocytes
 Acquired-body’s reaction to invaders
Immunity con’t
 Acquired 2 types
 Passive acquired immunity- borrowed immunity
 Babies get this from mothers at birth
 Exposure to a virus
 Last 3-5 weeks, temporary protection
 Active acquired immunity- last a lifetime
 Natural acquired- having a disease and recovering
(chickenpox)
 Artificial acquired- immunizations and vaccines (MMR)
Immunity
 IMMUNIZATION – increasing resistance to particular
diseases by artificial or natural means
 Vaccination- Antigen injected into a person to
stimulate production of antibodies
 Antigen may be dead or weakened bacteria, virus or
toxin
Disorders of the Lymphatic System
 Lymphadenitis
 Cancer
 Infectious
mononucleosis
 Anaphylactic shock
 Lymphedema
 HIV/AIDS
 Tonsillitis
 Hodgkin’s disease
 Lupus erythematous
 Scleroderma
Incubation period
 Time interval between entry of infection and onset of
symptoms
Lymphadenitis
 Enlargement of the lymph node
 Occurs when the body is fighting infection
 Referred to as “swollen glands”
Cancer and Hodgkin’s disease
 Cancer cells can be in lymph nodes, HCW must be
aware potential problems
 Hodgkin’s- form of cancer in lymph nodes
 Symptoms painless swelling
 Treatment- radiation and chemotherapy
 Prognosis is good
Anaphylactic shock
 Severe or fatal allergic reaction
 Allergen- an antigen that causes allergic response
 Hypersensitivity abnormal response to a drug or allergen
 Antigen/antibody reaction causes massive secretion of
histamine
 Symptoms include breathing problems, headache, facial
swelling, drop in BP, stomach cramps and vomiting
 Treatment or antidote is adrenaline or antihistamine
 Prognosis is good with proper and early treatment
 Always ask patients if they have allergies to food or drugs
Tonsillitis
 Infected and enlarged tonsils
 Symptoms are difficulty swallowing, severe sore throat,
elevated temperature and chills
 Treatment is to cure infection
 Surgery is done only in extreme cases
 Tonsilectomy
Lymphedema
 Swelling due to a blockage

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of the lymph passages
Causes are radiation,
surgery, tumors, and
mastectomy
Symptom is swelling
Treatment is to wrap
affected area, lymph
drainage and ROM(range
of motion) exercises
Prognosis is ok
lymphedema is a lifelong
disease
Infectious Mononucleosis
 AKA “mono” or “the kissing disease” because it is
spread by oral contact and Epstein-Barr virus
 Affects young children and adults
 Symptoms are enlarged lymph nodes, fever, fatigue,
high leukocyte count
 Treat symptoms (virus so no cure), bedrest and fluids
Lupus Erythematous
 Autoimmune disease that can be from family




predisposition, viruses or even sunlight
Symptoms are fatigue, rashes and joint pain; in severe
cases the body attacks it’s organs
Treatment is anti-inflammatory medication and
symptom control
There is no cure
Seal, Michael Jackson and Nick Cannon have lupus
Scleroderma
 Thickening of the skin

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and blood vessels
Symptoms are Raynaud’s
(spasm of finger and toe
blood vessels), changes
in skin color, pain
Will result in loss of
movement and dyspnea
NO cure
Treatment is to manage
symptoms
HIV/AIDS
 Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
 Human immunodeficiency virus
 AIDS suppresses the natural immune defense system
 HIV causes AIDS
 People with AIDS can’t fight infections and cancers
HIV/AIDS
 Transmission by:
 Sex with someone who is HIV positive
 Sharing needles with infected IV drug users
 At birth from infected mother
 Three responses to HIV infection:
 AIDS
 ARC (AIDS-related complex)
 Asymptomatic infection-has HIV but no symptoms
Symptoms of AIDS
 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 (swollen
lymph nodes)
 Unexplained weight loss,
10 pounds or more, in less
than 2 months
 Incubation period is 1
month to 12 years
HIV/AIDS
 Screening
 Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is an
AIDS indicator
 Western Blot test is used after positive ELISA
 Opportunistic infections- a healthy person would fight
off these infections, but a person with AIDS has a
compromised immune response. Ex. pneumonia
HIV/AIDS
 Cannot be spread by:
 Casual contact
 Through air, feces, food, urine or water
 Coughing, sneezing, embracing, shaking hands and
sharing eating utensils
 The AIDS Patient
 Sometimes treated as outcasts
 Healthcare worker should be supportive
 Use of gloves for normal patient contact is not necessary
AIDS related complex (ARC)
 Person contracts HIV and other conditions but not
AIDS
 Symptoms: chronic diarrhea, lymphadenopathy and
unexplained weight loss
 If life threatening opportunistic infections develop,
then individual is said to have AIDS
Prevent the Spread of HIV/AIDS
 Avoid risky behavior
 Protected sex
 Do Not share needles or syringes
 Clean soiled clothes, surfaces with soap and hot water
 Cover open cut, sore, or wound
 Use standard precaution
Standard Precautions
 Guidelines to use in patient care setting
 Must be used when there is contact with blood, any body
fluid (except sweat), mucous membranes and non-intact
skin
 Handwashing – the single most effective way to prevent
infection
 Wash hands after touching body fluids, even if gloves are
worn.
 Wash hands immediately after and between patient contact
 Use a plain (non-antimicrobial) soap for minimum 10 seconds
 Gloves, gown, mask/eyeshield (when appropriate) and
separate equipment
Standard Precautions
 Gloves – worn when touching blood, body fluids, etc.
 Mask, eye protection, face shield and gown – during
patient care activities that may generate splashes or
sprays of blood, body fluids, etc.
 Patient care equipment and linens – handle with care,
don’t let it touch your or clothing, clean or discard
appropriately.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv0yIICeg-E
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnR_tPwFZRI