Lymphatic system
Chapter 27
Lymphatic system circulates a fluid called lymph around the body
Drains fluid (called lymph) that has leaked from the blood vessels into the
tissues and empties it back into the bloodstream via the lymph nodes.
Lymph vessels system of dead-ending vessels which transport the lymph back to the blood
circulatory system
Lymph nodes swellings in the lymph vessels. These help to fight infection in the body. Filters
found along the path of the lymph vessels.
Lymph combination of tissue fluid and white blood cell
Tissue fluid similar to plasma except it does not have red blood cells or platelets and has
smaller amounts of white blood cells and protein.
Acts as an exchange medium, whereby material entering or leaving cells must
pass through it
Tissue fluid can be drained by 2 routes
90% of it is drawn back into plasma in the capillaries near the veins. This occurs by
osmosis and is helped by the reduced blood pressure in the veins.
10% of the fluid enters dead-ending tubes (lymph vessels). The fluid is now called lymph.
Lymph contains large amounts of white blood cells, proteins and fats.
Lymph vessels move lymph throughout the body by:
The muscular walls of the vessels
General body movements pressing on the vessels
*a system of valves ensures that lymph can only flow towards the shoulder regions. Smaller lymph
vessels join together to form two main vessels*
2 main vessels
The thoracic duct on the left side of the body
The right lymphatic duct at the right shoulder
*these ducts empty lymph into the bloodstream at the subclavian veins located near the collar
bones at the shoulders*
Lymph nodes small swellings found along the lymph vessels. They contain large numbers of
white blood cells (lymphocytes) and have many channels through which the
lymph flows.
Found in clusters, which form glands, in the areas of the body such as the
tonsils, adenoids (back of the nose), neck, armpits, thymus (gland in the
chest), spleen and groin.
Chapter 27
Lymphatic system circulates a fluid called lymph around the body
Drains fluid (called lymph) that has leaked from the blood vessels into the
tissues and empties it back into the bloodstream via the lymph nodes.
Lymph vessels system of dead-ending vessels which transport the lymph back to the blood
circulatory system
Lymph nodes swellings in the lymph vessels. These help to fight infection in the body. Filters
found along the path of the lymph vessels.
Lymph combination of tissue fluid and white blood cell
Tissue fluid similar to plasma except it does not have red blood cells or platelets and has
smaller amounts of white blood cells and protein.
Acts as an exchange medium, whereby material entering or leaving cells must
pass through it
Tissue fluid can be drained by 2 routes
90% of it is drawn back into plasma in the capillaries near the veins. This occurs by
osmosis and is helped by the reduced blood pressure in the veins.
10% of the fluid enters dead-ending tubes (lymph vessels). The fluid is now called lymph.
Lymph contains large amounts of white blood cells, proteins and fats.
Lymph vessels move lymph throughout the body by:
The muscular walls of the vessels
General body movements pressing on the vessels
*a system of valves ensures that lymph can only flow towards the shoulder regions. Smaller lymph
vessels join together to form two main vessels*
2 main vessels
The thoracic duct on the left side of the body
The right lymphatic duct at the right shoulder
*these ducts empty lymph into the bloodstream at the subclavian veins located near the collar
bones at the shoulders*
Lymph nodes small swellings found along the lymph vessels. They contain large numbers of
white blood cells (lymphocytes) and have many channels through which the
lymph flows.
Found in clusters, which form glands, in the areas of the body such as the
tonsils, adenoids (back of the nose), neck, armpits, thymus (gland in the
chest), spleen and groin.
