Guide

• Lymphatic System


  • Extensive network of vessels
  • Spleen is the largest organ
  • Lymph nodes are sac-like structures along larger lymph vessels
• Lymph


  Fluid transported within the lymphatic system
• Spleen


  Contains an emergency supply of blood and white blood cells
• Formation of Tissue Fluid and Lymph

  1. Capillary exudes plasma due to high hydrostatic pressure

  2. Tissue fluid forms between cells

  3. Proteins and cells in plasma too large to be forced out

  4. Blood pressure falls along capillary

  5. At venous end, osmotic pressure higher than hydrostatic, so most water moves back into blood capillaries

  6. Remainder of tissue fluid returned to blood via lymph vessels
• At the arterial end of the capillary bed, hydrostatic pressure is higher than osmotic pressure
• At the venous end of the capillary bed, osmotic pressure of the blood is higher than the hydrostatic pressure
• Net hydrostatic pressure is 1.7kPa at the arterial end and 0.5kPa at the venous end
• Net water potential is -20kPa at the arterial end and -15.49kPa at the venous end
• Net filtration pressure is 17kPa at the arterial end