Difference between revisions of "Lymphatic System Overview - Anatomy & Physiology"

Revision as of 16:06, 21 July 2008

Structure

The lymphatic system can be divided into two anatomical subsets:

Lymphatic Vessels
- Vessels that carry lymph around the body
Lymphoreticular System
- Consisting of the lymphoid tissues
  - Primary lymphoid tissues: Appendix, bone marrow, bursa of Fabricius, foetal liver, ileal Peyer's patch and thymus
  - Secondary lymphoid tissues: Spleen, lymph nodes, regional lymphoid tissue and tonsils

Functions

The lymphatic system has three functions:

Immune defence
Removal of interstitial fluid from tissue
Transport of fat

Immune defence

This is a broad topic area.

Immune functions are covered broadly under the primary and secondary lymphoid tissues of the lymphoreticular system with further information under the immunology section.

Removal of interstitial fluid

Transport of lipids

Chylomicrons transport digested lipids, however these are too large to enter the blood stream directly and thus enter the lymphatic system before being released into the blood stream. Further details can be found here.

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 <p>This is a broad topic area.</p><p>Immune functions are covered broadly under the [[Primary Lymphoid Tissue - Anatomy & Physiology|primary]] and [[Secondary Lymphoid Tissue - Anatomy & Physiology|secondary]] lymphoid tissues of the [[Lymphoreticular System - Anatomy & Physiology|lymphoreticular system]] with further information under the [[Immunology - Anatomy & Physiology|immunology]] section.</p>
 ===Removal of interstitial fluid===
-===Transport of fat===
+===Transport of lipids===
+Chylomicrons transport digested lipids, however these are too large to enter the blood stream directly and thus enter the lymphatic system before being released into the blood stream. Further details can be found [[Small Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology#Triacylglycerol Digestion and Absorption |here]].