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Applied Science Year 1 - Unit 8 Lymphatic System and Disorders
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Distinction grade assignment for unit 8a of year 1 applied science - the lymphatic system and disorders
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What is the lymphatic system?The lymphatic system is a component of the circulatory system, and is extremely useful in
supporting immune function and fluid drainage. Lymphatic fluid, or lymph, is filtered through
the lymphatic channels and lymph nodes, and it’s then returned to the bloodstream and
eventually destroyed. Nearly all body organs, regions and systems have lymphatic channels
(Null, Arbor and Agarwal, 2023). Some of the lymphatic system’s key functions include:
1. Maintaining the fluid levels in your body
2. Absorbing fats from the digestive tract
3. Protecting your body against foreign invaders
4. Transporting and removing waste products and abnormal cells from the lymph
(Cleveland Clinic, 2020)
Anatomy of the organs and structures in the lymphatic system
The lymphoid organs are categorised into primary and secondary; primary lymphoid organs
are sites where the formation and maturation of lymphocytes (red blood cells) occurs. The
cells in these primary organs are therefore undifferentiated lymphoid stem cells, and in the
environment that these sites provide they can develop into either T cells or B cells. These
organs have no contact with antigens, and also undergo atrophy (shrinkage) with age.
Primary lymphoid organs are bone marrow (the soft, spongy tissue in the centre of bones)
and the thymus.
Secondary lymphoid organs are sites where the lymphocytes are specialised for different
functions by allowing them to contact different antigens (toxins). To collect these antigens,
they form filters which monitor the contents of all extracellular fluid including blood, interstitial
fluid and lymph. Some examples of secondary lymphoid organs are lymph nodes, tonsils,
spleen and peyer’s patches found in your small intestines. These organs do not undergo
atrophy but rather increase size with age. This activity is all occurring when the lymphatic
system is healthy and working as it should (Lakna, 2019). The spleen is a lymphatic organ in
the upper left side of your abdomen, next to your stomach and behind your left ribs. It fights
invading germs in your blood, controls the level of white and red blood cells and platelets,
and filters the blood to remove any old or damaged red blood cells (NHS, 2017).
In a healthy state, lymph vessels (which are thin tubes/capillaries) will work to convey lymph
and white blood cells away from tissues and through their channels in the lymphatic system.
The lymph is collected at the nodes and moves towards larger vessels called collecting
ducts. They operate under low pressure and have a series of valves in them which only open
one way to keep the fluid moving in one direction (Cleveland Clinic, 2020). Lacteals are a
lymphatic vessel found in your small intestine that absorb digested fats. (Lacteal | anatomy |
Britannica, 2019)
Lymph nodes are bean shaped glands that monitor and cleanse lymph as it filters through
them - they filter out damaged and cancerous cells. Lymph nodes also store lymphocytes
which attack and destroy bacteria and other harmful substances. There are around 600
lymph nodes in our body, some scattered individually and others closer together (these are
called chains). All lymph nodes are connected via lymphatic vessels; the more familiar
locations of lymph nodes are in your armpits, groyne and neck (Cleveland Clinic, 2020).
Some examples of lymph nodes and their locations are axillary nodes in the armpits,
supratrochlear nodes near your humerus in your arm, abdominal nodes, inguinal nodes
situated in your groyne, and popliteal nodes in the tissues behind your knee.
Valves are found in larger lymph vessels and prevent the backflow of fluid so that lymph
flows forward instead of falling backward (Medicine LibreTexts, 2018).
, The thymus is an organ in the lymphatic system where T lymphocytes grow and multiply. It is
located in the chest behind the breastbone (www.cancer.gov, 2011).
Your tonsils are the two round, fleshy masses at the back of your throat. They act as lymph
nodes do and filter out germs that enter through your nose and mouth in order to protect the
rest of your body from infection (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.).
Diagram of the lymphatic system with labels
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