Equipping People To Make Sense Of What They Are Told
The Lymphatic System is part of the circulatory system. A network of conduits that
carry a clear fluid called lymph - from Latin lympha "water"
The lymphatic system provides vital resistance to infectious disease, malfunction
of internal process etc through an intricate interrelationship of physical, cellular
and chemical defences.
The slow circulating lymph fluid delivers immunity providing white blood cells when
required, as well as helping to distribute nutrients and collect waste for elimination.
The lymphatic system has multiple interrelated functions:
It is responsible for the removal of interstitial fluid from tissues
It absorbs and transports fatty acids and fats as chyle to the circulatory system
It transports immune cells to and from the lymph nodes in to the bone
It transports antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells, to the lymph
nodes where an immune response is stimulated.
It carries lymphocytes from the efferent lymphatics exiting the lymph nodes.
Lymph originates in the interstitial spaces between cells. Lymph drains into a network
of capillaries that unite to form larger vessels known as lymphatics.
Along the lengths of lymphatics are scattered nodes which filter and store lymph.
A lymph node is a small ball-shaped organ of the immune system, distributed widely
throughout the body and linked by lymphatic vessels. Lymph nodes are garrisons of
B, T, and other immune cells. Lymph nodes are found all through the body, and act
as filters or traps for foreign particles. They are important in the proper functioning
of the immune system.
Lymph nodes also have clinical significance. They become inflamed or enlarged in
various conditions, which may range from trivial, such as a throat infection, to
life-threatening such as cancers.
Other organs such as:
The Thymus
The Spleen
The Tonsils
The Peyers Patches
Contain many specialised white blood cells which protect your body against non-self
material.
Lymph nodes - are small ball-shaped organ of the immune system, distributed widely
throughout the body and linked by lymphatic vessels. Lymph nodes are garrisons of
B, T, and other immune cells and are found throughout the body acting as filters
or traps for foreign particles. They are important in the proper functioning of the
immune system.
Lymph nodes have clinical significance. They become inflamed or enlarged in various
conditions, which may range from trivial, such as a throat infection, to life-threatening
such as cancers.
Lymph vessels run through the body in much the same way blood vessels do. The capillaries
of the circulatory system leak the plasma and nutrients into the tissues of the body
to feed the individual cells. Most of that fluid is not returned to the circulatory
system, but remains in between the tissue layers as interstitial fluid. The fluid
is filtered into the lymph vessels and travels back toward the heart to be be returned
to the circulatory system.
When the interstitial fluid enters the lymphatic system the fluid is called lymph.
Lymph nodes lie in specific locations along the lymphatic vessels and perform vital
functions for the body's immune system.
Location:
Many lymph nodes are situated near the region around the joints. The movements of
the limbs help to act as a pump to move the lymph around the system. They are located
in clusters around the knee, groin, elbows, shoulders and neck, and are also to be
found in the central abdominal and chest area to assist with lymph drainage around
the vital organs.
Features:
Every lymph node has afferent and efferent vessels. Afferent vessels are the vessels
leading into the node. Efferent vessels are the vessels leading back out of the node
at the concave side called the hilum. The node itself is only about the side and
shape of a bean. The outer surface of the node is called the capsule. Inside the
node there is a cortex and a medulla. The outer cortex has follicles created out
of B cells. The inner portion of the cortex contains T cells. The medulla surrounds
the cortex and provides the sinuses that allow the lymph to flow through the node.
The sinuses of the medulla contain macrophages.
Functions:
The B cells, T cells and macrophages in the lymph nodes are all types of specialised
white blood cells that fight infection. The cells are in high concentration in the
lymph nodes to filter pathogens from the lymph that were collected from the tissue
fluid before the lymph is returned to the circulatory system.
Considerations:
If an infection invades the body, more white blood cells can flood into the lymph
nodes to fight the antigen. If there is inflammation in the area of the lymph node,
the inflamed cells can enter the node and cause it to swell. Malignant cancer cells
can infiltrate the node, causing it to expand. Lymphoma and leukemia can cause swollen
nodes by the multiplication of cancerous lymphocytes.
Nodes that become hard, grow rapidly or appear to be stuck to the skin require urgent
attention. If weight loss, night sweats, prolonged fever or fatigue are occurring
and the lymph nodes have been swollen for some time a serious infection or condition
may exist.
Manual lymph drainage is a type of massage which stimulates the flow of lymph into
the lymphatic capillaries and softens fibrotic tissues. It should not be performed
on anyone with cellulitis, a fever or cancer without a health professionals supervision.
It is a very light massage that can help to drain lymph nodes, improve the lymphatic
system function and reduce the swelling of lymph nodes.
