Lymph
The lymphatics are the drainage system of the body. Blood carries nurients to the cells and the fluid that is "between" the individual cells drains into the lymphtic system. The lymph contains white-blood-cells (called lymphocytes), proteins and desolved ions.
The clear fluid "lymph" flows through the lymphatic vessels straight to the heart. The lymphatic system serves to clean interstitial fluid from tissue, deliver APCs (antigen-presenting cells) to the lymph nodes, retain fats and fatty acids as chyle and carry them to the circulatory system, and convey immune cells to and from the lymph nodes.
THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM IS COOPERATIVE
Major lymphatic ducts. (Courtesy of NIH/NCI)
THE TRANSFORMATION
Arterial blood carries oxygen, nutrients, and hormones for the cells. To reach these cells it leaves the small arteries and flows into the tissues. This fluid is now known as interstitial fluid
and it delivers its nourshing products to the cells. Then it leaves the cell and removes waste products.
After this task is complete, 90% of this fluid returns to the circulatory system as venous blood.
WHAT IS LYMPH?
The remaining 10% of the fluid that stays behind in the tissues as a clear to yellowish fluid known as lymph.
LYMPHATIC CIRCULATION
The lymph is moved through the body in its own vessels making a one-way journey from the interstitial spaces to the subclavian veins at the base of the neck.
on either side of the neck.
Lymph returning to the
subclavian veins. © Lymph Notes
THE ORIGIN OF LYMPH
Lymph originates as plasma (the fluid portion of blood). The arterial blood
, which flows out of the heart, slows as it moves through a capillary bed. This slowing allows some plasma to leave the arterioles (small arteries) and flow into the tissues where it becomes tissue fluid.
LYMPHATIC CAPILLARIES
In order to leave the tissues, the lymph must enter the lymphatic system through specialized lymphatic capillaries. Approximately 70% of these are superficial capillarieslocated near, or just under, the skin. The remaining 30%, which are known as deep lymphatic capillaries, surround most of the body’s organs.
Lymphatic capillaries begin as blind-ended tubes that are only a single cell in thickness. These cells are arranged in a slightly overlapping pattern, much like the shingles on a roof. Each of these individual cells is fastened to nearby tissues by an anchoring filament.
LYMPHATIC VESSELS
The lymphatic capillaries gradually join together to form a mesh-like network of tubes that are located deeper in the body.
have one-way valves to prevent any backward flow.
LYMPH NODES
Lymph nodes kill pathogens and cancer cells. They also
remove debris and excess fluids. © Lymph Notes.com
There are between 600-700 lymph nodes present in the average human body. It is the role of these nodes to filter the lymph before it can be returned to the circulatory system. Although these nodes can increase or decrease in size throughout life, any nodes that has been damaged or destroyed, does not regenerate.
DRAINAGE AREAS
Lymphatic system drainage is organized into two separate, and very unequal drainage areas. The right drainage area clears the right arm and chest. The left drainage area clears all of the other areas of the body including both legs, the lower trunk upper left of the chest, and the left arm.
Lymphatic Drainage Areas
© Lymph Notes
WHY THIS INFORMATION IS SO IMPORTANT
The name of the fluid that is contained within the lymphatic system is lymph or lymph fluid. This fluid is extremely watery and is comprised of cells that come from bone marrow and lymph nodes.
Lacteals (also found in the blood stream)
blood/plasma
Capillaries allow Glucose and oxygen to move out of the blood in the capillaries into interstitial fluid and into the cells. Fluid is exchanged between capillary blood and interstitial fluid.
Correct. Waste products, such as carbon dioxide and metabolic byproducts, diffuse from the cell into the surrounding interstitial fluid. From there, they can enter the capillaries, where they are then transported through the bloodstream to be eliminated from the body.
go to the body cells, after that it returns to the capillaries, but the fluid that doesn't diffuses into the lymph vessels (when it goes into the lymphatic vessels it's called lymph) and goes back to the heart.
The sequence of fluid flow is blood capillaries.... interstitial space or interstitial fluid..... lymphatic capillaries.... lymphatic vessels.... lymphatic ducts..... junction of the internal jugular and subclavian veins. Then what helps this whole sequence is the skeletal muscle pump and the respiratory pump.
Lymph nodes.
nutrients
The human circulatory system consists of arteries, veins, and capillaries. The capillaries are the thin-walled vessels that connect arteries and veins and allow for the exchange of materials between blood and tissue fluid.
Small blood vessels called capillaries would "ooze".
Yes,. When interstitial fluid flows through the lymphatic vessels it is called lymph
Capillaries
Comparison between Lymph Vessels and Veins.Similarities.both have an interconnecting network of progressively larger vessels;both transport fluids to the heart;the larger lymph vessels have the same structure as veins, i.e. their walls have the same three layers;both have semi-lunar valves to prevent any backward flow of blood;the flow of fluid is slow but steady and at low pressure;the fluid is deoxygenated;like blood capillaries, the walls of lymph capillaries are composed of a single thin layer of squamous endothelium.Differences.the walls of lymph vessels are musch thinner and more transparent;the muscle layer in lymph vessel is much less developed, but there is more connective tissue;blood capillaries form a continuous, open circuit, whereas lymph capillaries end blindly in the tissues;lymph capillaries have a larger diameter than blood capillaries;lymph capillaries have walls which are more permeable than the walls of blood capillaries. Consequently, larger molecules (such as proteins) are able to diffuse through them.
Arteries Arterioles Blood capillaries Interstitial fluid Lymph capillaries Lymphatic vessels Lymph trunks Thoracic ducts or right lymphatic duct Subclavian veins (blood)