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Chiam ch Chiamaka Udoye
What is the lymphatic system
The lymphatic system or the lymphoid system is part of the circulatory and immune system. It is a network
containing tissue, vessel and organs that cooperate with each other to move a colourless, watery, infection- fighting
white blood cells throughout the body.
What is the function of the lymphatic system?
Maintains hydrostatic pressure: when the intestinal fluid builds up in the tissue, pressure will be exerted by
the capillaries or protein will leak into the tissues. In this circumstance, the fluid from the capillaries is driven
to tissues. One of the lymphatic system main functions is to clear out the excess fluids that builds up in the
body.
Removal of fluids: The lymphatic system clears out a tissue fluid known as lymph though the initial
lymphatic capillary that begins at the interstitial space of the tissue and organ. It is then conveyed to a
sturdier collecting lymph vessel, also known as a collecting duct, before they return to the blood stream.
They are then empty out to the venous system because the veins have low blood pressure which lessen the
effect of lymph cycling in the blood. Any abnormalities or pathogens are removed out of the lymphatic fluid
by the lymph node.
Fatty acid transport: the absorption of fatty acid in the digestive system is assisted the lymphatic system.
During digestion, the fatty acid is digested, emulsified and transformed into an enzyme called chylomicrons.
The lymph fluid absorbs the chylomicrons through the use of lacteal that lined the intestine. The
chylomicrons are then taken to the blood stream where they will t react with the HDL cholesterols
Immune cell transport: the lymphatic system maintains not only the homeostasis fluid tissue but also
transportation immune cells. Specialised white blood cells such as lymphocytes and antigens- presenting
cells are transferred to a lymph node that encounter pathogens, microorganism and other antigens that
were separated out from the lymph fluid. The lymph node, mediated by the dendritic cells, is the site of
reaction of the adaptive immune system. The diverse immune cells release chemokines/cytokines which are
absorbed by various antigens from the surrounding organs, this allows the antigen to infiltrate the lymph
nodes where the lymphocytes presented by dendritic cell triggers the adaptive immune system
How does the lymphatic system work?
The lymph fluid travels through a maze of lymphatic veins in the body. The batch of lymph which are joined
to the lymphatic system nodes filters and eliminate anything dangerous in the body. White blood cell also
referred to as lymphocytes are found inside the lymph nodes. Theses lymphocytes fight any pathogens,
antigens and cancer cells then breaks them down. The waste product and destroyed germ are carried into
the bloodstream by lymph fluid. The germs and waste product are then taken out of the blood by the kidney
or liver then excreted out of the body as bodily waste.
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Chiam ch Chiamaka Udoye
What is lymph
Lymph, also known as lymphatic fluid, is a colourless fluid that pass through the lymphatic system which is made up
of lymph nodes joined together with lymphatic vessels. It performs the same function as the venous system which is
to deliver tissue fluid to the circulation system. It contains tissue fluid and other substances such as damaged cell,
cancer cells, minerals, proteins, fats and foreign invaders. Chyle is also a type of lymph that originate from the
digestive tract and contains a large amount of lipids. Lymph also transport lymphocytes (infection-fighting white
blood cell)
How is lymph formed?
As the intestinal fluid builds up, microscopic capillaries pick it up and carried though lymphatic veins to the lymph
nodes where it is cleaned and filtered. The lymph is then transferred to the lymphatic collection duct where it is
stored for a period of time before being release back into the blood stream. The tissue fluid, also referred to as
intestinal fluid, becomes lymph from the moment it enters the lymph capillaries
What is the function lymph do?
It keeps the cells of the body damp
It removes metabolic waste away from cells while allocating hormones, nutrient and oxygens thought the
body
Antibodies and lymphocytes are transported to the site of infection via bloodstream
Composition of tissue fluid and blood volume are maintained through lymph
The lymphatic vessel absorbs fat from the small intestine
The lymph node which contains lymph helps prevent the invasion of pathogens, antigens and microorganism
Extra proteins and tissue fluid are brought back to the blood stream by lymph
Pathogens, germs, antigens and microorganism can be picked up by lymph where they will be transported to
lymph nodes to be killed
Lymph transfer lipids from the digestive system to the blood
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Chiam ch Chiamaka Udoye
How does lymph keep you healthy?
The lymph node contains the lymph, and the lymph contains white blood cells called lymphocytes. These the
lymphocytes multiply rapidly to counterattack the virus, pathogen or antigens. The lymph nodes also filter lymph to
identify and kill diseases and infection
What are lymphocytes?
Lymphocytes is one of the various forms of white blood cells. They play an important part in the body’s immune
system fight against cancer, pathogen, antigen and infection. There are two types of lymphocytes which are T cell
and B cell.
How are lymphocytes formed?
Lymphocytes are a kind of white blood cell grow and mature though a process called haematopoiesis in the bone
marrow before leaving to the blood stream. The lymphocytes will under go a process called lymphopoiesis where
some lymphocytes cell will be transferred to the thymus to become T cells while others continue to stay in the bone
marrow to become B cells, once matured they will travel to the lymph nodes and spleen
Types of cell and their function
Lymphocytes are divided into two parts;
T cell: T cells assist in the killing of cancer cells and the regulation of the immune systems response to foreign
chemical. They are also in control of eliminating the body’s own cell that has been contaminated with viruses or have
turned cancerous. It also generates cytokines, a biological chemical, that assist in triggering the immune system
other component. There are 3 types of immune system which are cytotoxic T cell, helper T cell and regulatory.
B cell: B cell through a process called hormonal immunity Generates a Y- shaped antibody made of protein to attach
to the surface of the antigen which immobilise them or label them for elimination by your immune system. It can
also release antibodies to inhibit the growth of cancer, but its downside is that it can mutate to produce liquid
cancer and release cytokines to store any anti-tumour response
How does lymphocytes travel
They circulate constantly between the lymphatic system and the circulator system it encounters a harmful foreign
body. The lymphocytes squeeze out specialized endothelial vein called a post capillary venule to escape the
bloodstream. After escaping they are collected in a small lymphatic vessel that leaves the nodes and intersect with
several large lymphatic vessel before reaching a major lymphatic collection duct (thoracic duct), where they are once
again release back to the blood stream. Only until a lymphocyte contact an antigen does the continuous cycle comes
to a halt.
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