Lymphatic Circulation

Function

• fluis reabsorption

• transport of macromolecules and certain types of cells

• small amount of blood circulation seep through capillaries and into tissues where the lymphatic system collects it and it returns back to the blood

• housing immune cells

• filtering microorganisms

right lympatic duct

empties at juction of right internal jugular and right subclavian veins

thoracic duct

empties into junction of left internal jugular and left subclavian veins

cisterna chyli

most inferior part of thoracic duct

lymphatic ducts

• left and right subclavian vein to superior vena cava to right atrium

• right lymphatic duct

• thoracic duct

• cisterna chyli

asymmetric lymphatic draining system

Different part of the body are drained into the lymphatic or thoracic duct, but one is larger than the other.

Drained by lymphatic duct

1. right arm, chest and head

2. lymphatic duct

3. right subclavian vein

4. right atrium

Drained by thoracic duct

1. left arm, chest, and head

2. pelvis, lower limbs

3. abdomenal wall, kidneys, adrenals

4. other abdominal organs: liver, gall bladder, stomach, spleen, and pancreas

5. GI system and chyle

6. cisterna chyli

7. thoracic duct

8. left subclavian vein

9. right atrium

10. right ventricle

11. lungs

12. left atrium

13. left ventricle

14. other organs

lymph circulation

the lymph trunks drain into the lymph ducts, which return lymph to the blood by emptying into the respective subclavian veins

lymph ducts

• right lymph duct

• thoracic duct

lymph trunks

• jugular

• subclavian

• lumbar

• bronchomediastinal

• intestinal (unpaired)

chyle

mixture of emulsifies fats from the intestines and lymph fluid found in the intestinal and thoracic lymph duct.

characteristics

• does not have a central pump

• smooth muscle cells within the walls of lymphatic trunks and ducts provide intrinsic contractile pumping

• lymphatic capillaries

• lymph fluid can only flow forward due to the closing of valves after fluid is pushed through by fluid accumulation, smooth muscle contraction and skeletal muscle contraction

• valves help push fluid

lymphatic capillaries

tiny thin walled vessels located in the spaces between cells through out the body (brain), not non vascular tissues

lymph

clear to white fluid made of body fluid, cellular waste, lymphocytes, and chyle

short-chain fatty acids

aliphatic tails of 2-6 carbons

medium-chain fatty acids

aliphatic tails of 6-12 carbons

long-chain fatty acids

aliphatic tails with 13-21 carbons

very long chain fatty acids

aliphatic tails longer than 20 carbons

chylomicrons

Long chain fatty acids and highly lipophilic toxicant (log p >5) are absorbed into the enterocytes of the villi. In the enterocytes the lipophilic substances are packages and fatty acids are reesterfied into triglycerides.

chylomicron transportation

1. transported via lacteal

2. drain into submucosal lymphatic network

3. converges with mesenteric lymphatic vessels

4. cisterna chyli

5. thoracic duct

6. left subclavian vein

7. superior vena cava

8. right atrium

causes of obstruction

malformation of lymphatic vessels

• trauma and surgery

• cancer therapies

• genetic mutations

• microorganism infection

• toxin

• intravenous drug abuse

causes edema