Anatomy - Blood and Lymphatic System

Lymphatic System Functions

1. Transports excess fluid away from tissue spaces and returns it to the bloodstream. 2. Helps transport fats from digestive system to blood. 3. Helps defend the body against disease causing organisms.

Blood Functions

1. Transports oxygen from lungs to tissue cells. 2. Transports carbon dioxide from tissue cells to lungs. 3. Transports wastes from tissue cells to kidneys, lungs, and sweat glands. 4. Transports hormones from endocrine glands to tissue cells. 5. Transports enzymes. 6. Regulates body ph through buffers. 7. Helps regulate body temperature. 8. Regulates water content of tissue cells. 9. Protects agains foreign microbes.

Hemoglobin Lifespan

120 days

Blood Viscosity

4.5 to 5.5 times thicker than water.

Blood Ph

7.35 - 7.45 (slightly alkaline)

Fibrinogen

A blood protein essential to blood clotting.

Chem-7

A blood test that measures the basic electolytes in blood.

Elephantiasis

A condition in which the limbs become extremely swollen and the skin hardens and thickens, happens when a large amount of filarial worms block lymphatic vessels.

Polycythemia

A disorder characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood.

Erythropoietin

A glycoprotein secreted by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells.

Lymphatic Vessel

A large vessel that collects lymph from lymphatic capillaries and converges with others to form the thoracic and right lymphatic ducts.

Lingual Tonsils

A mass of lymphoid tissue, which covers the base of the tongue posterior to the oral cavity proper.

Hematocrit

A measurement of the percentage of packed red blood cells in a given volume of blood. Females = 42% Males = 47%

Basophils

A type of WBC that promotes inflammation and participates in allergic responses.

Blood Types

A, B, AB and O. Type O is the universal donor and AB blood is known as the universal recipient.

Erythrocytes

Also known as red blood cells (RBC) are mature red blood cells produced by the red bone marrow. The primary role of these cells is to transport oxygen to the tissues. The oxygen is transported by the heomglobin.

Edema

An accumulation of an excessive amount of fluid in cells, tissues, or serous cavities.

Mono

An acute disease characterized by fever and swollen lymph nodes and an abnormal increase of mononuclear leucocytes or monocytes in the bloodstream. Viral disease in young adults - fatigue (caused by epstein barr virus), swollen glands, pharyngitis.

Monocytes

An agranular leukocyte (largest) that is able to migrate into tissues and transform into a macrophage.

Rh groups

Antigen discovered in blood of Rhesus monkey - people (85%) with the agglutinogens on RBC surface are (+). Normal plasma contains no antibodies. they develop only in the (-) blood type and only with exposure to the antigen.

Anemia

Any condition in which the red cell count, hemoglobin level, and/or hematocrit are less than normal.

Lymph Nodes

Bean-shaped filters that cluster along the lymphatic vessels of the body. They function as a cleanser of lymph as wells as a site of T and B cell activation.

Globulin

Blood protein that includes both antibodies and proteins that transport lipids.

Cyanosis

Bluish color of the skin, nail beds, and/or lips due to an insufficient amount of oxygen in the blood.

Hodgkins Disease

Cancer of lymphatic tissue that is characterized by the progressive enlargement of lymph nodes, fatigue, and deficiency of the immune responce.

Lymphatic Vessels

Carry fluid away from the tissues and return it to the blood system, they have thin walls and valves.

Lymph Nodes Locations

Cervical area of neck Axillary Groin Abdomen Pelvic cavity Thoracic cavity

Right Lymphatic Duct

Collects lymph from the right side of the head and neck, the upper right quadrant of the body, and the right arm; empties into the right subclavian vein

Thoracic Duct

Empties into left subclavian vein. Drains lymph from intestinal, lumbar, intercostal, left subclavian, left jugular, left bronchomediastinal trunks.

Plasma Nutrients

Glucose, amino acids, fatty acids (products of digestion).

Thalassemia

Inherited defect in the ability to produce hemoglobin, usually seen in persons of Mediterranean background.

Pernicious Anemia

Lack of mature erythrocytes caused by inability to absorb vitamin B12 into the body.

Plasma

Liquid portion off the blood. Straw colored. Involved in the transport of blood proteins. 92% Water and 8% solutes. Contains: Algumens, globulins, fibrinogens, plasma nutrients, carbon dioxide, urea and uric acid, enzymes and hormones.

Lymph Fluid

Lymph, intercellular fluid as it returns to the venous circulatory system. Removes waste products from the cells. Must be filtered by the lymph nodes before it reenters the circulatory system.

Lymphatic System Organs

Lymphatic vessels, lymph fluids & nodes, thymus gland, and spleen.

Agranular Leukocytes

Lymphocytes and monocytes.

Blood Volume

Males: 5 - 6 liters Females: 4 - 5 liters

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

Malignant tumors of immune system -B cells

Lymphatic Capillaries

Microscopic closed-end tubes which take lymph fluid to the lymph vessels.

Granular Leukocytes

Neutrophils, Eosinophils, Basophils.

Palitine Tonsils

Oval lymphatic tissues on each side of the pharynx that filter air to protect the body from bacterial invasion; also called palatine tonsils.

Thrombocytes

Platelets; cell fragments which initiate the clotting process. Normally 130K to 360K per cubic millimeter.

Lymphocytes

Specialized white blood cells known as B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells that make up the immune system. They form antibodies and increase in viral infections.

Albumen

Substance found in Plasma. Prevents water from leaving blood and entering tissues. Control blood volume.

Tonsilectomy

Surgical removal of the tonsils.

Lymphatic Trunk

The convergence of collecting vessels to form a larger vessel which drains a major protion of the body, there are six of these.

Hemogoblin

The iron containing protein found in the red blood cells that give them the ability to transport oxygen in the blood. Hemoglobin + Oxygen = Oxyhemoglobin (bright red) Hemoglobin when oxygen is released at the tissue cells = Deoxyhemoglobin (bluish color)

Spleen

The largest lymphatic organ in the body; serves as a blood reservoir. Located in upper left abdomen between stomach and diaphragm. Resembles large lymph node but contains blood not lymph. Destroys old red blood cells, and produces lymphocytes and plasmids.

Neutrophils

The most abundant type of white blood cell. Neutrophils are phagocytic and tend to self-destruct as they destroy foreign invaders, limiting their life span to a few days. Increase in bacterial infections.

Thymus

The primary gland of the lymphatic system, located within the mediastinum; helps maintain the body's immune response by producing T lymphocytes.

Blood

The thick red fluid that flows through the body's blood vessels and transports important substances throughout the body.

Sickle Cell Anemia

This is a recessive hereditary disorder affecting the formation of hemoglobin and causes the RBC to form an S or C shape, preventing normal flow thru capillaries, resulting in decreased blood flow & decreased oxygen-carrying capacity.

Stem Cells

Unspecialized cells that retain the ability to become a wide variety of specialized cells.

Eosinophils

White blood cells that are responsible for combating infection by parasites and allergies in the body.

Leukocytes

White blood cells, or WBC, form in the bone marrow and are part of the body's nonspecific defenses and the immune system. They have nuclei, but no hemoglobin. 5 - 11,000 per cubic millimiter.

Pharyngeal Tonsil (adenoid)

a collection of lymphatic tissue in the throat behind the uvula (on the posterior wall and roof of the nasopharynx).