Lymphatic system and Lymph
Lymph
Characteristics:
- transparent yellowish fluid found in lymphatic system
- it is formed from tissue fluid
Composition:
- main component is water, salts, enzymes, small amount of proteins and leucocytes
Functions :
- to collect waste products, toxigens, pathogens, dead cells, cancer cells, these substances are filtrated within Lymphatic nodes
Chyle - milky coloured lymph which contains fats and it´s absorbed from small intestine
Lymphatic system
Parts of the lymphatic system:
- lymphatic vessels / lymph
- lymph / lymphoid organs
- lymph nodes mandle (e.g. tonsils, Peyer´s patches - small intestine) - are located along lymph vessels, fibrate lymph and remove waste products, toxins, pathogens, dead cells, cancer cells from the lymph
- bone marrow - produces leucocytes
- spleen - has similar structure than lymph nodes but is much larger, produces lymphocytes, a person without this structure is more susceptible to infections
- thymus . promote maturation of T lymphocytes, is larger in children than in adult and may disappear completly in old age
Function of the lymphatic system :
- provides immunity, absorbtion of excess of tissue fluid, obsorbtion of fat from small intestine and its transport to the blood stream
Structure and characteristics of the lymphatic system:
- it is open system in comparism to the cardio-vascular system
- there is no pump
- the lyph is moving by the skeletal muscle contractions
It starts like a network of lymphatic capillaries in tissues > lymph vessels (contain valves to prevent back flow of lymph) > lymph nodes (filtration of lymph) > lymph vessels merge before returning to the cardiovascular system to form two ducts :
- Thoracic duct - larger one
- delivers lymph to the left subclavian vein of a cardiovascular system from head, neck, from the left thorasoc region, left arm, abdomen and limbs
- Right lymphatic dust
- delivers lymph to the right subclavian vein of a cardiovascular system from the right part of head and neck, right thorasic region, right arm
Lymphatic system and Lymph
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