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Anatomy of Lymphatics System

The lymphatic system plays important roles in fluid balance, immunity, and returning interstitial fluid to the bloodstream. Lymph is formed from interstitial fluid that enters lymph capillaries due to hydrostatic pressure gradients. It is passively moved through a series of vessels and ducts before draining into the bloodstream. Lymph nodes filter lymph and initiate immune responses when antigens are present. They are located strategically throughout the body.

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37 views9 pages

Anatomy of Lymphatics System

The lymphatic system plays important roles in fluid balance, immunity, and returning interstitial fluid to the bloodstream. Lymph is formed from interstitial fluid that enters lymph capillaries due to hydrostatic pressure gradients. It is passively moved through a series of vessels and ducts before draining into the bloodstream. Lymph nodes filter lymph and initiate immune responses when antigens are present. They are located strategically throughout the body.

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Anatomy of Lymphatics System

- Describe the function and formation of lymph


- Describe the structure of lymph capillaries and the manner in which
lymph enters the capillaries from the tissues
- Describe the anatomy of collecting lymph vessels and larger lymph
vessels
- Explain the factors promoting lymph flow
- Name the main lymph groups in the head, thorax abdomen and limbs
- Name and identify the function of other components of the lymphatic
system such as the thymus, bone marrow, spleen and peyers patches

Two principle roles

Cardiovascular – fluid balance and homeostasis

Immune – component of the surveillance system that defends the body

Roles of hydrostatic and osmotic pressure in maintaining blood volume

There are two distinct pressures causing fluid to move between blood and tissues across the blood
capillary endothelium – hydrostatic and osmotic pressures.

- Osmotic pressure is Largely generated by differences in the protein concentration between


blood plasma and tissue fluid
- Osmotic pressure Remains largely constant
- The movement of fluid into tissues is largely controlled by differences in hydrostatic pressure
between the arterial and venous ends of the capillary

There is a net effective filtration pressure of -2mm of mercury out and into the tissues – the
consequence of this is that some fluid remains in the tissues.

The primary task of the lymphatic system is to return this fluid to the vascular system.
General structure of lymphatics

Lymphatic capillaries – entry of interstitial fluid into the lymphatic system

- Blind ending tubes


- Loosely overlapping endothelial cells – no basal membrane
- Pressure in interstitial fluid causes fluid to open ‘mini valves’
(inter-cellular clefts) and enter the lymphatic capillaries
- Pressure inside capillaries stops escape of lymph

Movement of lymph in the lymphatic system

- No intrinsic pump
- Movement of lymph in lymphatic capillaries is general passive – driven by pressure changes
caused by contraction of surrounding muscles, breathing etc.
- Lymph moves from capillaries into larger vessels – some of which have thin layers of smooth
muscle that can provide some intrinsic propulsion of lymph
- Valves in lymphatic vessels prevent retrograde flow – distended lymphatics appear to have a
beaded structure due to these valves
General anatomy of lymphatics

- Mirrors that of the venous system


- Lymphatic capillaries merge into larger lymphatic vessels: vessels – trunks – ducts
- Two main ducts:
A) Thoracic duct
a. Major duct draining all of body apart from RHS head, thorax and R axillary limb
b. Starts a cisternae chyli – located ventral to lumbar vertebrae – merging of R and L
lumber and intestinal trunks
c. Tracks course of aorta and venae cava
d. Empties at junction of left subclavian and internal jugular vein – return to circulation
e. In adult humans – roughly 40cm long and 5mm diameter
B) Right lymphatic duct
a. Drains RHS head, thorax and R axillary limb
b. Empties at junction of R subclavian and internal jugular vein – return to circulation

Odema

General observes as an abnormal accumulation of interstitial fluid

Causes:

- Increase in venous hydrostatic pressure – e.g. chronic heart disease


- Decrease in blood osmotic pressure – e.g. loss of plasma protein
- Increase in increased blood vessel permeability – inflammation
- Blockage of lymphatic drainage – e.g. neoplastic obstruction of lymphatic vessels

Lymphatics in cardiovascular balance

The role of the lymphatics system in immunity

- Key feature of lymphatics is location of lymph nodes at strategic points


- Lymph nodes are where the immune system can screen lymphatic fluid draining from the
bodies tissues to look for abnormalities/infection
- Most infections/trauma leads to an inflammatory response in local tissue, consequences
include
o Oedema – increased flow of fluid into lymphatic system
o Extra-vasation of immune cells into lymphatic fluid
o Specialised antigen-presenting cells (APCs) e.g. macrophages and dendritic cells,
migrating from site of inflammation in lymph to lymph nodes
- in lymph nodes APCs interact with lymphocytes (B and T cells) to initiate an adaptive
immune response

flow of lymph through a lymph node

1. afferent lymphatic vessels


2. sub-capsular sinus
3. trabecular sinuses
4. medullary sinus
5. efferent lymphatic vessel
- APCs get trapped in trabecular sinuses and interact with T-cells in the paracortex (6)
- B cells located in cortex in lymphoid follicles – upon activation form germinal centres (7)
- Plasma cells (antibody screting B cells) are located in medullary cords (8)
- Lymph node surrounded by capsule (connective tissue – 9)

lymph node
histology

- Most B and
T cells in
lymph
nodes are
naïve –

unstimulated
- Upon antigen stimulation B and T cells proliferate –
causes hypertrophy (enlargement) of the lymph node
- Enlarged lymph node (lymphadenopathy) – sign of infection – cancer cells trapped
- Therefore, palpation of regional lymph nodes a key component of clinical examination

Other components of the lymphatic system

- Primary (central) lymphoid organs – production and early maturation of B and T cells
o Bone marrow
 production and primary maturation of B- cells
 Production of T cells
o Thymus
 Primary maturation of T cells
 Thymic involution as mature
- Secondary (peripheral) lymphoid organs – sites for maintaining naïve lymphocytes and
initiation of lymphocyte activation upon encountering antigen
o Lymph nodes – screens lymph (general tissues)
o Spleen – screens blood
o Peyer’s patches and MALTs (mucosal associated lymphoid follicles)

Spleen
Peyers patches

Organised lymphoid follicles in distal ileum – samples gut environment


Lymph nodes of special interest

Different parts of the body are drained by different groups of lymph nodes; the five most important
are:

1. The retropharyngeal group These lymph nodes drain the whole of the head, and nodes such
as the parotid, deep cervical and cervical can be palpated as a diagnostic tool for relevant
infections of the salivary glands, mouth and upper respiratory tract.
2. The axillary group Draining the whole of the forelimbs and the cranial mammary gland of the
bitch. Palpation of the axillary node is the first node to be palpated in suspected cases of
cranial breast carcinoma in the bitch as it is the first site of tumour spread. It is always
examined histopathologically during mastectomy to check for tumour metastasis.
3. The mediastinal group Draining the entire thoracic cavity, none of these are palpable
because they lie adjacent to the bronchi, deep within the thoracic cavity; however they are
examined post-mortem as a diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of tuberculosis and similar
infections in the abattoir.
4. The mesenteric group These drain the organs of the abdomen, and the mesenteric lymph
nodes are often palpated in cases of suspected gastrointestinal infection. They are also
examined during routine meat inspection
5. The iliac group Draining the whole of the hind limb, the pelvic vicera and the pelvic area
generally. Of special interest here are the superficial inguinal nodes, which drain the caudal
mammary glands. These are the primary targets for caudal mammary gland metastasis and
can be palpated and examined histopathologically during mastectomy.

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