RETICULO ENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM (RE SYSTEM)

LYMPHATIC AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEM:

Lymphatic System :

• Collects fluid (lymphatic fluid)
• Relieves pressure due to build up of interstitial fluid
• Cleanses the body of unwanted substances; bacteria, germs, toxins, waste

Lymphatic Fluid : excess fluid in cells is squeezed out by osmotic pressure and becomes interstitial fluid

• This fluid will build up if not removed

Lymphatic Vessels: Vessels that travel from the toes to the heart and the head drains down to the heart.

• Vessels connected to connecting tubules
• Lymph fluid moves through the body by muscle contractions when the body moves
• Valves prevent backflow of the fluid
• Maintain pressure in the vessels is very important
• We must move around or the fluid will build up

Nodal Areas:

Lymph Nodes : are a collection of lymphocytes with reticular (network) tissue

Chains of Lymph Nodes : filters unwanted substances (germs, toxins, waste)

Phagocytosis – is the eating of bacteria and unwanted substances

Swollen Lymph Nodes : are reacting to substances.   They are doing their job.

Lymph Vessels drain from 2 sides of the body:

• lymph vessels get larger as they get closer to the heart

Left Side:

• large collecting trunk : 2 common iliacs meet at the cysterna chili (L2) then it drains into the
• thoracic duct (para aortics) : most lymphatics from the body travel through the thoracic duct.   Then it drain into the
• subclavian vein : which brings the lymph into the blood supply from the thoracic duct

Right Side:

• the right lymphatic duct drains into the right subclavian vein

If Bacteria travels from the Lymph to the Blood supply it can cause sepsis

If Cancer travels from the lymph to the blood supply it can become mets

NODAL GROUPS:

With Cancers and Mets:

When nodal groups are involved; a jump to another nodal group is considered advancement in disease

• would be a higher level of involvement
• worse for patient
• will travel eventually from nodal groups to the heart and then become bloodborne disease
• this would effect Staging of disease

Largest Lymphatic Organ : Spleen

Other lymphatic organs : thymus gland and the tonsils

Spleen : filter made up of 2 tissues

• splenic pulp (red and white)
• white is the lymphatic tissue
• red is the RBC's and lymphocytes
• in the fetus the major job of the spleen is to produce RBC's (hematopeotic organ)
• in adults it stores RBC's but does not produce them (Red Pulp)

Thymus : responsible for the immunological defenses of the body (when we are young)

• produces T-Cells in response to antigens

Tonsils : we have 3 sets of tonsils that form Waldyers Ring

• palatine
• larngeal
• tonsillar (lingual or adenoids)

Peyers Patches : lymphatic tissue in the intestine, appears as white milky patches (lacteals)

Lymphatics are absent in :

• brain
• eyeball
• cartilage
• epidermis

(areas of sanctuary from cancer)

Lymphadenitis : lymph node swelling

Lymphadema : swelling general to an area

Lymphangitis : lymph vessel swelling