Understand the impact of disorder on the physiology of the lymphatic system
and the associated corrective treatment.
The Lymphatic System
Aim
The report will describe the lymphatic system and explore a range of disorders as well as the
physiology of the parts included in the lymphatic system. The report will evaluate the best
treatment of the disorders associated with the lymphatic system.
Introduction
The lymphatic system is made up of a complex network of organs, tissues, arteries, veins
and capillaries working together to keep humans alive and healthy. Without the lymphatic
system the two other systems would not be able to function. Both the immune system and
circulatory system are needed to maintain a long, healthy life. If one of the systems within
the lymphatic system fails to work the body will become weak and many disorders will occur
in the body. The main purpose of the lymphatic system is to protect humans from infections
and diseases. Other roles of the lymphatic system is to drain body fluids, contain plenty of
WBCs (white blood cells) and remove cell waste. The overall structure is made up of the
lymphatic vessels, capillaries, lymphoid organs and ducts and tracts.
Hydrostatic pressure - also known as filtration pressure. It is used to describe the process of
which the lymphatic body fluid is forced out from the blood capillaries into the interstitial
space.
Osmotic pressure - is the force or pressure in the lymphatic capillaries and vessels that stop
the lymph from flowing backwards, with the help of the minivalves and the continuous
‘pumping’, energy excreted from the smooth muscles to help lymph flow in one direction.
, [figure 1 - labelled hand drawn diagram of the anatomy of the lymphatic system]
Lymph
The lymph is the clear fluid that is present in the tissue and organs in the body. It is
composed of water and is created by the filtered plasma from the blood. The plasma in the
blood is diffused through the capillary wall then absorbed into surrounding tissue and blood
vessels. The amount of fluid that remains in the tissue is called the interstitial fluid, which
becomes the lymph, once absorbed into the lymphatic capillaries. However, the composition
of lymph and interstitial fluid varies on the location in the body, due to various types of
tissues present.
[figure 2 - hand drawn image of the cells within the lymphatic system.
The purple areas are the nucleus and the white space is called the interstitial space which is
filled with interstitial fluid.]
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