Chapter 20 – The Lymphatic System and Lymphoid Organs & Tissues

Overview of the Lymphatic System

  • A meandering, one-way network of lymphatic vessels that returns interstitial fluid to the cardiovascular system.
  • Fluid terminology
    • Interstitial fluid → enters lymphatic vessels → becomes lymph ("clear water").
  • Structural–functional bridge to immunity
    • Lymphoid organs/tissues (spleen, thymus, tonsils, MALT, lymph nodes) provide the structural basis of the immune system.
    • Lymph nodes act as the keystone, linking vessel function with immune functions.

Components of the System

Lymphatic Vessels

  • Functions
    • Return excess tissue fluid to blood.
    • Return leaked plasma proteins → maintain plasma colloid osmotic pressure.
    • Transport absorbed fats (via lacteals) from small intestine to blood.
    • Carry pathogens & antigens to lymph nodes.
  • One-way flow: always toward the heart.

Lymphatic Capillaries

  • Microscopic, blind-ended tubes interwoven with blood capillary beds.
  • Absent in bone, bone marrow, teeth; present in limited areas of CNS meninges (drain brain interstitial & CSF).
  • High permeability due to two specializations
    1. Overlapping endothelial cells form flap-like minivalves (one-way swing doors).
    2. Collagen anchoring filaments tether endothelial cells; ↑ interstitial volume → pulls flaps open.
  • Admit large particles (proteins, cell debris, pathogens, cancer cells).
  • Specialized intestinal capillaries = lacteals; lymph inside is chyle (milky, fat-laden).

Collecting Vessels → Trunks → Ducts

  • Same 3 tunics as veins; thinner walls, more valves, frequent anastomoses.
  • Superficial vessels travel with superficial veins; deep lymphatics track deep arteries.
  • Major trunks: paired lumbar, bronchomediastinal, subclavian, jugular + single intestinal trunk.
  • Terminal ducts
    • Right lymphatic duct → drains right upper limb, right head, right thorax; empties at junction of right internal jugular & right subclavian veins.
    • Thoracic duct (larger) → drains remainder; often begins as cisterna\,chyli (enlarged sac) at T{12}-L{2} level; empties into left venous junction.

Lymph Transport Mechanics

  • No pump; low-pressure system.
  • Propulsion mechanisms
    • Skeletal-muscle milking.
    • Respiratory thoracic pressure changes.
    • Pulsations of adjacent arteries.
    • Rhythmic contraction of smooth muscle in vessel walls (except smallest).
  • Flow is sporadic & slow; physical movement ↑ rate.

Quantitative Highlights

  • Fluid left behind at capillary beds ≈ 3\;\text{L day}^{-1} → must be reclaimed.

Homeostatic Imbalances (Vessels)

  • Lymphangitis: inflamed lymphatics; vasa vasorum congest → red tender streaks.
  • Lymphedema: blocked/removed lymphatics → severe localized edema.

Lymphoid Cells & Tissues

Cellular Players

  • Lymphocytes
    • T cells: manage immune response; directly attack infected cells.
    • B cells: differentiate into plasma cells → secrete antibodies that tag antigens.
  • Macrophages: phagocytize & activate T cells.
  • Dendritic cells: capture antigens, migrate to nodes, present to T cells.
  • Reticular cells: produce reticular fiber stroma scaffold.

Tissue Types

  • Diffuse lymphoid tissue: loose arrangement; nearly every body organ (lamina propria of mucosae).
  • Lymphoid follicles (nodules): solid, spherical B-cell bodies; possess germinal centers.
    • Isolated as Peyer’s patches & appendix follicles or as part of larger organs (nodes, tonsils).

Lymphoid Organs

  • Primary: sites of lymphocyte maturation
    • Red bone marrow → origin & B-cell maturation.
    • Thymus → T-cell maturation.
  • Secondary: first antigen encounter & activation
    • Lymph nodes, spleen, MALT (tonsils, Peyer’s patches, appendix).
    • Only lymph nodes filter lymph directly (afferent & efferent vessels).

Lymph Nodes

Distribution

  • Hundreds; largest clusters in cervical, axillary, inguinal regions where vessels converge.

Functions

  1. Filter lymph: macrophages remove microorganisms/debris before lymph returns to blood.
  2. Immune activation: site where lymphocytes encounter antigens (often delivered by dendritic cells).

Histological Architecture

  • Size: < 2.5\;\text{cm} (≈ 1\;\text{inch}), bean-shaped.
  • Capsule → inward trabeculae create compartments.
  • Two regions
    • Cortex: follicles with germinal centers (dividing B cells); deeper cortex rich in T cells; abundant dendritic cells.
    • Medulla: medullary cords (T & B cells) + medullary sinuses.
  • Sinuses: subcapsular → cortical → medullary; criss-crossed by reticular fibers laden with macrophages.

Lymph Flow Pattern

\text{Afferent vessels} \rightarrow \text{subcapsular sinus} \rightarrow \text{cortical sinuses} \rightarrow \text{medullary sinuses} \rightarrow \text{hilum} \rightarrow \text{efferent vessels}

  • Fewer efferent than afferent routes → stagnation → increased filtration & immune interaction time.

Clinical Notes

  • Buboes: infected, pus-filled nodes (e.g., bubonic plague).
  • Cancer metastasis often seeds nodes; nodes become hard, non-tender, enlarged.

Spleen

Position & Blood Supply

  • Left upper abdomen, curling around stomach; supplied by splenic artery & vein (branches of celiac trunk & hepatic portal system respectively).

Functions

  • Immune surveillance & lymphocyte proliferation.
  • Blood cleanser
    • Removes aged/defective RBCs & platelets.
    • Macrophages phagocytize debris & pathogens.
  • Additional roles
    • Salvages & stores iron; sends other Hb breakdown products to liver.
    • Stores \sim 1/3 of body’s platelets + monocytes.
    • Fetal erythrocyte production (may persist in adults under stress).

Microanatomy

  • White pulp: lymphocyte-rich islands around central arteries → immune functions.
  • Red pulp: splenic cords + sinusoids; site of RBC & pathogen destruction.

Pathology

  • Thin capsule; rupture → intraperitoneal hemorrhage; historically splenectomy, now conservative management.
  • Splenomegaly: enlargement (e.g., mononucleosis, malaria, leukemia, septicemia).

MALT (Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue)

  • Scattered, strategically placed lymphoid tissue in mucous membranes → guards entry points.
  • Major aggregations
    1. Tonsils (pharyngeal ring)
    • Palatine (largest, most often infected), lingual, pharyngeal (adenoids when enlarged), tubal.
    • Tonsillar crypts trap bacteria → immune memory formation.
    1. Peyer’s patches: large nodules in distal small intestine wall.
    2. Appendix: tubular offshoot of cecum; high follicle density.
  • Additional diffuse MALT in respiratory, genitourinary, and rest of GI tracts.

Thymus

Location & Development

  • Inferior neck → superior thorax, deep to sternum; bilobed.
  • Prominent in newborns; enlarges during first year; starts involuting at puberty; residual tissue persists, still produces some T cells.

Structure

  • Lobulated (like cauliflower).
    • Cortex: densely packed, rapidly dividing T lymphocytes + macrophages.
    • Medulla: fewer lymphocytes + thymic corpuscles (Hassall’s corpuscles) → regulatory T-cell development.
  • Epithelial-cell stroma, not reticular fibers.
  • Blood–thymus barrier isolates developing T cells from antigens.
  • Lacks B cells & follicles; no direct antigen fight—serves strictly for T-cell maturation.

Comparative Summary (Key Differentiators)

  • Capsule present: nodes, spleen, thymus; MALT generally lacks full capsule (tonsils partially encapsulated).
  • Lymphoid follicles rich in B cells: nodes (cortex), spleen (white pulp), MALT; absent in thymus.
  • Stroma: reticular connective tissue (nodes, spleen, MALT) vs epithelial tissue (thymus).
  • Unique features: efferent+afferent vessels (nodes), red/white pulp (spleen), crypts (tonsils), cisterna chyli (duct), thymic corpuscles (thymus).

Numerical & Equation Snapshot

  • Daily capillary fluid loss → 3\;\text{L} returns via lymph.
  • Lymph node length < 2.5\;\text{cm} (≈ 1\;\text{in}).
  • Platelet reservoir in spleen ≈ \frac{1}{3} total platelets.

Developmental Notes

  • Lymphatic vessels & main node clusters arise by week 5 embryonically from lymph sacs budding off veins.
  • Thymus (endodermal) first lymphoid organ; others (mesodermal mesenchyme) follow; lymphocytes populate organs shortly after birth.

Selected Clinical & Vocabulary Terms

  • Elephantiasis: lymphedema due to filarial worms.
  • Hodgkin’s lymphoma: malignant, Reed–Sternberg cells, high cure rate.
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: all other lymphoid cancers; variable prognosis.
  • Sentinel node: 1st draining node examined for cancer spread.
  • Tonsillitis: inflamed/infected tonsils.
  • Lymphangiography: imaging with radiopaque dye.

Integrated Questions / Self-Check Prompts

  1. Define lymph; trace its origin path.
  2. Identify regions drained by right lymphatic vs thoracic ducts.
  3. Summarize forces propelling lymph.
  4. Analyze edema development when lymphatics are blocked—refer to capillary hydrostatic & colloid osmotic pressures.
  5. Distinguish primary vs secondary lymphoid organs.
  6. Sketch & label a lymph node (afferent, efferent, hilum, cortex, medulla, follicles).
  7. Explain why fewer efferent vessels benefit immune surveillance.
  8. Relate splenic artery/vein to celiac trunk & hepatic portal vein hierarchy.
  9. Predict consequences of thymic removal in a neonate vs an adult.

These bullet-point notes encompass every major and minor concept in the transcript, elaborate on complex ideas, include quantitative data in LaTeX, integrate clinical correlations, and connect developmental and functional perspectives—forming a comprehensive stand-alone study guide for Chapter 20 on the lymphatic system.