Spleen: This largest lymphatic organ is located on your left side under your ribs and above your stomach. The spleen filters and stores blood and produces white blood cells that fight infection or disease.
It's needed there because those systems are exposed to the external environment. This lymphatic tissue plays a very important role in the defence of our body. The most important sites of this lymphoid tissue are in the throat (called the tonsils), in the intestine area (called Peyer's patches) and in the appendix.
This system includes the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and lymphatic vessels (a network of thin tubes that carry lymph and white blood cells). Lymphatic vessels branch, like blood vessels, into all the tissues of the body. Also called lymph system.
The two major lymphatics of the body include the right lymphatic duct and the thoracic duct. The right duct drains most of the right upper quadrant whereas the thoracic duct drains the lower body including the extremities and abdomen. To ensure that fluid does not flow backward, all lymphatic have one-way valves.
The primary lymphoid organs are the red bone marrow, in which blood and immune cells are produced, and the thymus, where T-lymphocytes mature. The lymph nodes and spleen are the major secondary lymphoid organs; they filter out pathogens and maintain the population of mature lymphocytes.
The spleen controls the level of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets (small cells that form blood clots). It screens the blood and removes any old or damaged red blood cells. If the spleen doesn't work properly, it may start to remove healthy blood cells.
It allows the circulation of a fluid called lymph through the body in a similar way to blood. It plays a key role in fighting disease. The lymphatic system is essential for fluid balance, absorption of fatty acids in the stomach, and immune system regulation.
The thymus gland is most active during childhood. Your thymus actually starts making T-cells before you're born. It keeps producing T-cells and you have all the T-cells you need by the time you reach puberty. After puberty, your thymus gland slowly starts to decrease in size and is replaced by fat.
There are two major functions of the lymphatic system. The first is to drain interstitial fluid and maintain the fluid balance between blood and tissue fluid. The second is to fight infection and mediate immunity.
The spleen can become swollen after an infection or injury. It can also become enlarged as a result of a health condition, such as cirrhosis, leukaemia or rheumatoid arthritis.
After splenectomy, the functions of the spleen are usually taken up by other organs, such as the liver, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. Up to 30% of people have a second spleen (called as accessory spleen), these are usually very small but may grow and function when the main spleen is removed.
You can be active without a spleen, but you're at increased risk of becoming sick or getting serious infections. This risk is highest shortly after surgery. People without a spleen may also have a harder time recovering from an illness or injury.
If it's not working properly, fluid builds in your tissues and causes swelling, called lymphedema. Other lymphatic system problems can include infections, blockage, and cancer.
Lymph fluid travels through the lymph vessels and drains into the bloodstream. This is a colourless fluid that is made in the body. It surrounds all body tissues. Extra fluid from tissue in the body drains into and flows through small lymph vessels.
Lymph acts as middle man which transports food materials, oxygen, hormones etc to the body cells and brings carbon dioxide and other metabolic wastes from the body cells to blood and then finally pours the same into venous system.
LYMPHATIC CAPILLARIES
Approximately 70% of these are superficial capillaries located near, or just under, the skin. The remaining 30%, which are known as deep lymphatic capillaries, surround most of the body's organs.
The thoracic duct is the largest lymphatic vessel in the human body. Around 75% of the lymph from the entire body (aside from the right upper limb, right breast, right lung and right side of the head and neck) passes through the thoracic duct. The cells of the immune system circulate through the lymphatic system.
Lymph is a clear-to-white fluid made of: White blood cells, especially lymphocytes, the cells that attack bacteria in the blood and body tissues. Fluid from the intestines called chyle, which contains proteins and fats.
It is important to avoid foods that are “damp”: alcohol, fat, fast sugars and excessive quantities of dairy products — for example, “fromage blanc,” which has a moisture content of 80%. The spleen is sensitive to erratic eating habits and can be weakened by skipping breakfast, copious or late dinners, and snacking.
The characteristic features of Spleen-Qi deficiency are fatigue, asthenia, atrophied muscle, pale tongue with thin white coating and moderate, weak pulse. Spleen-Yang deficiency is characterized by cold limbs, fear of cold, puffy pale tongue with slippery coating and slow fine pulse.
A major function of the lymphatic system is to return interstitial fluid to the cardiovascular system.