Lymphatic system: structure, organs, scheme, disease

The human lymphatic system is a complex organ that has its own structure and illness. Read more in the article.

Content

The lymphatic system protects the body from infections, distributes and balances the body's fluids. Although the lymphatic system is extremely important for our health, unfortunately, we cannot influence its work.

Read on our website an article on the topic: "What to do if the lymph node under the jaw is inflamed". You will find out which doctor to contact, how to treat. The article also describes what submandibular lymphadenitis is, its causes, consequences.

Read in this article how the lymphatic system works and what diseases threaten it. This is written below.

The lymphatic system is what functions: what is lymph?

The lymphatic system is the least studied part of the circulatory system. It works with the circulatory system and is involved in the transportation of lymph. Here are its functions:

Lymph is a watery liquid containing electrolytes, protein, lymphocytes (white blood cells), which, falling into the immune system, control attacks against microorganisms that are dangerous to health.
Lymph is transferred to the body due to contractions of skeletal muscles.
The lymphatic system consists of vessels and ducts, as well as lymphoid tissue, which consists of lymph nodes, parathyroid glands, tonsils, thymus and spleen.

When the lymphatic system works impeccably, we do not think about its existence. But when an infection enters the body and begins to affect this system, it becomes worse for a person, he feels bad. The lymph nodes increase in size, which signals the presence of foreign particles - bacteria, viruses. Also, this symptom may indicate the development of cancer in the body.

Human lymphatic system: structure, anatomy, organs, scheme

The human lymphatic system is unique. Here is her scheme:

Here is the structure of the organs of the lymphatic system according to anatomy:

Tonsils:

This is an accumulation of lymphatic tissues that form the so -called Valdeier ring.
They are located on both sides of the pharynx, between the back of the tongue and the tongue that grows from the sky.

Parachita -shaped glands:

They have the shape of 4 structures the size of a pea and are built into the tissue surrounding the thyroid gland.
They distinguish the hormone of the parathyroid gland, which is responsible for regulating the level of calcium in the blood, increase its level and reduce the amount of phosphate in the blood.

SPLEEN:

Lies in the mediastinum. It consists of microscopic lobules. Filled with blood.
The largest organ of the lymphatic system located in the abdominal cavity.
In case of removal, all functions take over the liver.
But a person who does not have a spleen, immunity is much lower, since he is a body responsible for the destruction of bacteria.
The task of the spleen is to produce immunoglobulins and remove unnecessary substances from the body, for example used red blood cells.

THYMUS:

It operates only before puberty.
Later disappears, and its place is occupied by adipose tissue.
It is she who determines the immune characteristics of the body and the production of T-lymphocytes.

THE LYMPH NODES:

Scattered all over the body.
In shape, they resemble a bean with a length of 1 to 25 mm, and each of us has about 600 of them.
The nodes cleanse the lymph of dead cells, bacteria and viruses, destroy each "attacker" of the body who wants to get into the bloodstream.
In the parenchyma of the lymph nodes there is a cortical part and the medical part, that is, medical craters.
Mature lymphocytes are formed in accumulations and persisted by stripes.
The nodes are grouped in certain areas of the body and therefore got their name, for example, axillary and inguinal nodes.

Lymphatic vessels:

Equipped with special valves, transport lymph to the lymph nodes, from where, after filtration, it returns back to the bloodstream.
These vessels do such work - some carry, while others take the lymph from the nodes.

Of course, there are other organs in this system. For example, Timus, thoracic duct. Their role is no less important and these organs also participate in the construction of human immunity.

Diagnosis of the human lymphatic system: how to check?

If a person feels well, the body swells, and blood biochemistry shows deviations in the work of the lymphatic system, then the doctor can prescribe a person diagnostics of this system. How to check? The most basic way is ultrasound:

Ultrasound is a non -invasive examination, it is necessary to assess the state of the lymphatic system.
Ultrasound can be carried out on various parts of the body (for example, lymph nodes on the neck).
Most often, ultrasound is performed to assess the condition of the abdominal cavity.
Based on this examination, the doctor is looking for enlarged affected lymph nodes, a changed liver or spleen, which confirms or excludes the diagnosis made on the basis of blood tests and palpation.

It is worth noting: The biopsy of the lymph node can also be performed under ultrasound.

Diseases of the human lymphatic system

There are several types of diseases of the human lymphatic system:

Tonsillitis:

Tonsils - This is the most commonly affected part of the lymphatic system. Protecting from bacteria and viruses, tonsils increase and become red. Chronic tonsillitis develops.
Tonsillitis It is accompanied by headaches and an increase in body temperature. Chronic inflammation can lead to kidney infections or rheumatic heart disease.
Angina - This is a special type of tonsillitis - a common toxemia that affects not only tonsils, but the whole body. The infection spreads with airborne droplets. With the development of the disease, severe tonsillitis and high temperature appear. The tonsils are strongly poured with blood, covered with white coating, lymph nodes on the neck increase and become painful. The incorrectly treated tonsillitis develops into chronic, which seriously affects the heart.

TREATMENT: consists in the introduction of an antibiotic. If infections are often repeated (more than 2 times a year), the doctor may decide to remove tonsils. This eliminates the problem of tonsillitis forever, but often a new one appears - laryngitis and pharyngitis.

Lymphatic edema:

Lymphatic edema is often found in people who removed the lymph nodes as a result of surgery.
It occurs as a result of blockage of lymph vessels and regular lymph flow.
Edema may appear as a result of a violation of the structure of the lymph vessels themselves, as a result of inflammation, injury and even cancer.
This also occurs when lymph enters subcutaneous tissues.
The disturbing symptom of the lymphedem is significant edema of the legs and arms. Sometimes they are so large that the patient cannot move them.
Inflamed lymph vessels prevent the free blood flow, which causes painful muscle cramps.

TREATMENT: Lymphatic massage, which unlocks blood vessels and improves lymph flow. It must be performed systematically and until pain and edema pass. It is also useful to bandage the limbs, but not too much so as not to pull. Physical exercises are also very important for restoring the correct lymph flow. Usually, these are exercises to improve the structure of skeletal muscles surrounding all lymph nodes. In addition to systematic lymphatic massage, sometimes it is necessary to regularly pump out excess lymph with a syringe.

Lymphomas:

Belong to a group of diseases that affect the lymph nodes.
The name refers to both benign and malignant forms of cancer.
Every year, benign lymphomas are diagnosed in about 6 thousand per 100,000 people.
The most dangerous of the lymph is Hodgkin's disease. It is difficult to detect, because it develops without characteristic or disturbing symptoms. Increased lymph nodes, weakness and rapid weight loss are often perceived as symptoms of fatigue, lack of sleep and severe stress.

TREATMENT: If these symptoms persist for several weeks, immediately consult a doctor and take a blood test to check the lymph nodes, which will give you a chance to completely recover. The malignant type of lymphoma, like most types of cancer, requires the treatment of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Often the only salvation for the patient is bone marrow transplantation.

Tonsil cancer:

It is rare, but if it develops, it progresses greatly.
It is still unknown why the altered plain cell cancer cells accumulate in the tonsils at the first stage of the disease and eventually penetrate other organs of the mouth and pharynx.
The acute symptom, which is often taken as angina pectoris, is the ulceration and significant edema of the tonsils.
When swallowing, severe pain occurs. The lymph nodes are affected in the following stages of the disease.

TREATMENT: The most effective treatment method is to remove the affected tonsil and remove the entire lymphatic system from the neck.