Lymphatic System

Lymph: is the name given to tissue fluid after it enters a lymphatic vessel and it contains lymphocytes, fats, and proteins

The function of the lymphatic system (FFF)

• ^^Filtering^^ out the organisms that cause the diseases
• ^^Formation^^ of lymphocytes
• ^^Formation^^ of antibodies

The lymphatic system consists of %%lymphatic tissues%% and %%lymphatic vessels%%

Lymphatic tissues

They are a type of connective tissue that contains a large number of lymphocytes

They are present in many organs & structures as:

1. ^^Lymph nodes^^

• They are small oval bodies that are present along the course of lymph vessels.
• They are present mainly in the axilla, groin, neck, and along blood vessels.

1. ^^Spleen^^

   • Lies in the abdomen behind the stomach. (on the left side of the body)
   • It has a role in filtering the blood and destroying the old RBCs.
   • It acts as a %%reservoir for the blood%% as in an emergency it contracts to push blood into circulation.

2. ^^Thymus gland^^

• It lies in the upper part of the chest behind the sternum.
• It has a role in the formation of T lymphocytes.

1. ^^The tonsils^^
   • The tonsils form a protective ring of lymphatic tissue around the openings between the nasal and oral cavities and the pharynx.
   • They are mainly 2 tonsils the %%palatine tonsil which lies in the oropharynx%%, and the %%pharyngeal tonsil which lies in the nasopharynx%%

Clinical notes

• Swelling of the lymph nodes is a sign of the immune system functioning to fight off the invaders of the body as bacteria and viruses.
• Lymphatic vessels provide a pathway for the spread of certain types of malignant tumors from their site of origin.