LYMPH
• Has composition similar to tissue fluid.
• It has all the components of blood plasma except large plasma protein.
Lymph = Blood - ( RBC+platelets+some proteins)
• It has nutrients, enzymes, vitamins, hormones and small plasma protein.
FUNCTION OF LYMPH
• Lymph maintain blood volume by returning all the leaked components of blood.
• Maintain fluid environment around cells and prevent their desiccation (drying).
• Provide nutrition and oxygen to all cells.
• Help in absorption of fats through Gastro Intestinal Tract(GIT)
LYMPHATIC CIRCULATION
LYMPHOID ORGAN
Primary Lymphoid organ :-
Site of formation or maturation and differentiation of lymphocytes.
e.g of primary Lymphoid organ are :
- Bone marrow
- Thymus(training school of T- Lymphocytes)
Secondary Lymphoid organ :-
• Provide microenvironment for interaction of antigen with lymphocyte.
• Maintain Lymphocyte activity and may have phagocytic activity.
e.g of secondary Lymphocytes are -
Spleen
Payer patches
Appendix
Tonsils
Lymph nodes
MALT(mucosa associated lymphoid Tissue)
GALT(Gut associated Lymphoid Tissue)
Spleen :
• Largest lymphatic organ.
• Present between diaphragm and stomach.
• Internally divided into red pulp and white pulp.
Function :-
• Graveyard of RBC.
• Blood bank of body(store excessive RBC,WBC and platelets.
• Secondary Lymphoid organ.
• Splenomegaly = Enlargement of spleen(occur in malaria and typhoid).
• Splenectomy = Surgical removal of spleen ( after splenectomy liver act as Graveyard of RBC).
Lymph nodes :-
• These are the masses of adenoid reticular tissue in the pathway of lymph vessels.
• About 600 in number.
• Mostly present in axillae(armpits) and groin(angle between thigh and lower abdomen)
Function :- Filter lymph and trap harmful antigen and kill them by fixed macrophages.
Note:-
Swelling of Lymph node = Lymphatic adenopathy
Cancer of lymph node = Hodgkin's lymphoma