Immune/Lymphatic system
Overview of the immune and lymphatic systems
The immune and lymphatic systems are closely related. The immune system protects our body's defense system against viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The lymphatic system is composed of capillaries, vessels, and nodes that transport lymph from the tissues as it returns to the bloodstream. Lymphatic tissues filter lymph of any abnormalities or pathogens.
Lymph node overview
Lymph nodes generally occur in groups along the larger lymphatic vessels. Lymph nodes primary function is to produce lymphocytes, and defend the body against microorganisms and harmful foreign particles. Lymph nodes cluster in six major areas, the cervical region, the axillary region, the pelvic cavity, abdominal cavity, and the leg and groin region.
Anatomy of the Immune and Lymphatic systems
Immune and Lymphatic System of the Head and Neck: The immune and lymphatic structures in the head and neck function together to drain and filter interstitial fluids and also to destroy harmful pathogens.
Adenoids (Pharyngeal Tonsil)- Part of the lymphatic system, the adenoids are located in the back of the throat and the nasal cavity. Composed of folded lymphatic tissue, the adenoids function to catch possible infectious agents, coat them in mucus, and send it to the stomach for digestion before viruses can be drawn into the lungs and cause infection.
Cervical Nodes- One of the six major locations of lymph nodes, the cervical nodes are grouped together along the border of the jaw, in front and behind the ears, and deep in the neck. They function to drain the skin of the face, nasal cavity, and the pharynx. A primary function of all lymph nodes is to produce lymphocytes, which helps defend the body against microorganisms and harmful foreign particles before lymph is returned to the bloodstream.
Lingual Tonsils- Composed of lymphoid tissue, the lingual tonsils are located on the posterior portion of the tongue.
Palatine Tonsils- Two lymphatic tissue masses, the palatine tonsils are located on each side of the oral pharynx. Though a specific function of the palatine tonsils has not been discovered, they are apart of the immune system and they are thought to assist in defending the body from respiratory infections.
Immune and Lymphatic System of the Upper Torso
Axillary Nodes- A group of lymph nodes located in the armpit (axillary) region of the body. They function to filter and transport lymph from the upper limbs, pectoral region, and upper back. Positioned deep in the tissues around the armpit, there are a group of twenty to thirty lymph nodes.
Bronchomediastinal Trunk- One of the six lymphatic trunks, the function of the bronchomediastinal trunk is to drain lymph from the larger areas of the body. The bronchomediastinal trunk receives lymph from portions of the thorax.
Bronchopulmonary Nodes- Located in the hilum of the lung, the bronchopulmonary nodes receive lymph from the pulmonary nodes and then they drain into the tracheobronchial lymph nodes.
Intercostal Nodes- Located behind the intercostal vessels, intercostal nodes drain the posterior portion of the thoracic cavity through the mediastinal lymph nodes. The efferent lymphatics on the right, drain into the right lymphatic duct, and the left side drains into the thoracic duct.
Jugular Trunk- One of the six lymphatic trunks, this trunk drains lymph from the neck and head and meets at the junction of the subclavian vein and the internal jugular vein on the right side. On the left side of the body, it drains into the thoracic duct.
Mediastinal Nodes- A group of lymph nodes located in the mediastinum, the mediastinal nodes are small round structures located throughout the body. The mediastinal nodes monitor and filter lymph for foreign particles. There are two sets of mediastinal nodes, the superior and the inferior nodes. The superior mediastinal nodes are located in the upper part of the chest and neck, near the esophagus and the trachea. The inferior mediastinal nodes are located further down the chest cavity, near the lower lobes of the lungs.
Right Lymphatic Duct- Known as the thoracic duct, the right lymphatic duct drains lymphatic fluid from the right thoracic cavity, the right arm, and the right side of the head and neck. Near the base of the neck, the right lymphatic duct ends at the right subclavian vein.
Spleen- A flat brown, lymphatic organ, the spleen filters and stores blood to protect the body from infections and blood loss. Located between the stomach and the diaphragm, the spleen rests in the left upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity.
Subclavian Trunk- One of the six lymphatic trunks, the subclavian trunk drains lymph from the arms.
Thoracic Duct (Left Lymphatic Duct)- Located in the mediastinum of the pleural cavity, the left lymphatic duct is the largest lymphatic duct in the body. It collects nearly all of the lymph in the body, while the right lymphatic duct collects the remaining lymph. From the left lymphatic duct, lymph flows back into the bloodstream.
Thymus Gland- Associated more with the immune system rather than the endocrine system, the thymus trains and developes T cells, which are an important type of white blood cell.
Immune and Lymphatic System of the Lower Torso
Cysterna Chyli- Located at the lower end of the thoracic duct, this is a sac that receives lymph from the lumbar lymphatic trunks and the intestinal trunk.
Iliac Nodes- Located in the pelvic region, the iliac nodes filter the blood and lymph from iliac veins and arteries. There are two sets of iliac nodes, internal and external. The internal iliac nodes drain the internal iliac artery, vagina, rectum, upper posterior thigh, and urethra. The external iliac nodes filter the blood and lymph from the external iliac veins and arteries.
Ingunial Nodes- Located in the leg and groin region, the inguinal nodes receive lymph from the legs, the outer portion of the genitalia, and the lower abdominal wall.
Intestinal Trunk- Joining with the thoracic duct, the intestinal trunk drains lymph from the organs of the abdominal cavity.
Lumbar Trunk- One of the six lymphatic trunks, this trunk drains lymph from the legs, lower abdominal wall, and the pelvic organs.
Peyer's Patches- Functioning with the immune system, Peyer's patches are small masses of lymphatic tissue found throughout the ileum region of the small intestine. They monitor intestinal bacteria and prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the intestines.
Adenoids (Pharyngeal Tonsil)- Part of the lymphatic system, the adenoids are located in the back of the throat and the nasal cavity. Composed of folded lymphatic tissue, the adenoids function to catch possible infectious agents, coat them in mucus, and send it to the stomach for digestion before viruses can be drawn into the lungs and cause infection.
Cervical Nodes- One of the six major locations of lymph nodes, the cervical nodes are grouped together along the border of the jaw, in front and behind the ears, and deep in the neck. They function to drain the skin of the face, nasal cavity, and the pharynx. A primary function of all lymph nodes is to produce lymphocytes, which helps defend the body against microorganisms and harmful foreign particles before lymph is returned to the bloodstream.
Lingual Tonsils- Composed of lymphoid tissue, the lingual tonsils are located on the posterior portion of the tongue.
Palatine Tonsils- Two lymphatic tissue masses, the palatine tonsils are located on each side of the oral pharynx. Though a specific function of the palatine tonsils has not been discovered, they are apart of the immune system and they are thought to assist in defending the body from respiratory infections.
Immune and Lymphatic System of the Upper Torso
Axillary Nodes- A group of lymph nodes located in the armpit (axillary) region of the body. They function to filter and transport lymph from the upper limbs, pectoral region, and upper back. Positioned deep in the tissues around the armpit, there are a group of twenty to thirty lymph nodes.
Bronchomediastinal Trunk- One of the six lymphatic trunks, the function of the bronchomediastinal trunk is to drain lymph from the larger areas of the body. The bronchomediastinal trunk receives lymph from portions of the thorax.
Bronchopulmonary Nodes- Located in the hilum of the lung, the bronchopulmonary nodes receive lymph from the pulmonary nodes and then they drain into the tracheobronchial lymph nodes.
Intercostal Nodes- Located behind the intercostal vessels, intercostal nodes drain the posterior portion of the thoracic cavity through the mediastinal lymph nodes. The efferent lymphatics on the right, drain into the right lymphatic duct, and the left side drains into the thoracic duct.
Jugular Trunk- One of the six lymphatic trunks, this trunk drains lymph from the neck and head and meets at the junction of the subclavian vein and the internal jugular vein on the right side. On the left side of the body, it drains into the thoracic duct.
Mediastinal Nodes- A group of lymph nodes located in the mediastinum, the mediastinal nodes are small round structures located throughout the body. The mediastinal nodes monitor and filter lymph for foreign particles. There are two sets of mediastinal nodes, the superior and the inferior nodes. The superior mediastinal nodes are located in the upper part of the chest and neck, near the esophagus and the trachea. The inferior mediastinal nodes are located further down the chest cavity, near the lower lobes of the lungs.
Right Lymphatic Duct- Known as the thoracic duct, the right lymphatic duct drains lymphatic fluid from the right thoracic cavity, the right arm, and the right side of the head and neck. Near the base of the neck, the right lymphatic duct ends at the right subclavian vein.
Spleen- A flat brown, lymphatic organ, the spleen filters and stores blood to protect the body from infections and blood loss. Located between the stomach and the diaphragm, the spleen rests in the left upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity.
Subclavian Trunk- One of the six lymphatic trunks, the subclavian trunk drains lymph from the arms.
Thoracic Duct (Left Lymphatic Duct)- Located in the mediastinum of the pleural cavity, the left lymphatic duct is the largest lymphatic duct in the body. It collects nearly all of the lymph in the body, while the right lymphatic duct collects the remaining lymph. From the left lymphatic duct, lymph flows back into the bloodstream.
Thymus Gland- Associated more with the immune system rather than the endocrine system, the thymus trains and developes T cells, which are an important type of white blood cell.
Immune and Lymphatic System of the Lower Torso
Cysterna Chyli- Located at the lower end of the thoracic duct, this is a sac that receives lymph from the lumbar lymphatic trunks and the intestinal trunk.
Iliac Nodes- Located in the pelvic region, the iliac nodes filter the blood and lymph from iliac veins and arteries. There are two sets of iliac nodes, internal and external. The internal iliac nodes drain the internal iliac artery, vagina, rectum, upper posterior thigh, and urethra. The external iliac nodes filter the blood and lymph from the external iliac veins and arteries.
Ingunial Nodes- Located in the leg and groin region, the inguinal nodes receive lymph from the legs, the outer portion of the genitalia, and the lower abdominal wall.
Intestinal Trunk- Joining with the thoracic duct, the intestinal trunk drains lymph from the organs of the abdominal cavity.
Lumbar Trunk- One of the six lymphatic trunks, this trunk drains lymph from the legs, lower abdominal wall, and the pelvic organs.
Peyer's Patches- Functioning with the immune system, Peyer's patches are small masses of lymphatic tissue found throughout the ileum region of the small intestine. They monitor intestinal bacteria and prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the intestines.