1. Lymphatic System I. Composition of Lymphatic System
II. Functions of Lymphatic System
III. Lymphatic Conducting Vessels
IV. Lymphatic Organs
Guo Ling,MD,PhD
Department of Anatomy

2. I. Lymphatic System 1.Composition 1) Lymph conducting vessels
2)Lymphatic organs
3) lymphoid tissue

3. 2. Functions 1) Serving as an accessory system for return of fluid
from the narrow space
between tissues to the heart.
2) Producing lymphocytes
& then participating in
the immune responses.

4. lymphatic vessels lymphatic trunks lymphatic ducts I. Lymph
Conducting Vessels
lymphatic capillaries
lymphatic vessels
lymphatic trunks
lymphatic ducts
Changes from
small diameter to
large one

5. Lymphatic Trunks ( 9 in number
Right & Left jugular trunks
Right & Left subclavian trunks
Right & Left bronchomediastinal trunks
Right & Left lumbar trunks
Intestinal trunk

6. Thoracic Duct Origin: cisterna chyli End: L.venous angle
3) Drainage:6 trunks
4) Route:
→aortic opening→
posterior mediastinum
(→ right side→left
side)→
cisterna chyli
left venous angle

7. Right Lymphatic Duct 1) Drainage 3 lymphatic trunks (collecting lymph
from right and
superior quarter
of body)
2) End
right venous angle

8. lymph nodes thymus tonsil spleen lymphatic tissue II. Lymphatic Organs
in digestive &
respiratory tracts

9. Lymph Nodes (LNs) 1. Distribution principles of lymph nodes
① lying in the roots of the head,
neck and extremities as well as in the
organ hilums and mesenterium
② arranged along blood vessels & nerves
③ aggregating into groups

10. 2). Deep cervical 2. Main Lymph Nodes in Body LNs in Head & Neck
(Reviewing the veins
in neck)
1) Superficial
cervical nodes
2). Deep cervical
lymph nodes

11. Outline of Lymph Nodes in Head and Neck
Superficial lateral
cervical lymph nodes

12. Deep Lateral Cervical Lymph Nodes
1) Position:
arranged along
internal jugular V
2) Two groups
divided by
omohyoid muscle
a. superior deep
cervical lymph nodes
( jugulodigastric LN
or angular LN )

13. b. inferior deep cervical lymph nodes Supraclavicular LN (Virchow LN
lying in the
left venous angle)

14. LNs
in Upper Limbs
Axillary LNs
1. Anterior group
2. Lateral group
3. Dorsal group
4. Central group
5. Apical group

15. LNs in Thorax 1.Anterior mediastinal LNs 2. Posterior mediastinal LNs
3. LNs in trachea,
bronchi & lungs :
1) Paratracheal LNs
2) Sup. tracheobronchial LNs
3) Inf. tracheobronchial LNs
4) Bronchopulmonary LNs
5) Pulmonary LNs

16. LNs in Abdomen (I) 1.Celiac LNs 2.R & L gastric LNs
3.R & L gastroepiploic LNs
4.Pyloric LNs
5.Hepatic LNs
6.Pancreaticosplenic LNs

17. LNs in Abdomen (II)
Super. mesenteric LNs
Infer. mesenteric LNs

18. LNs in Abdomen (III) Lumbar LNs Common iliac LNs External iliac LNs
Internal iliac LNs

19. LNs
in Lower Limbs
1.Inguinal LNs
1) Superficial LNs
(T--- shaped)
Upper group
Lower group
2) Profound LNs
2. Popliteal LNs

20. Thymus 3) Structure 4) Functions 1) Location in anterior part of
replaced by
adipose tissue
after sex maturation
2) Morphology
two lobes
A. gernerating T cells
B. secreting hormone( lymphopoietin)
4) Functions
in anterior part of
superior mediastinum
1) Location
Thymus

21. Tonsils lingual tonsil (Tonsillar ring) 1) Location 2) Composition
in the openings of
digestive,
respiratory &
auditory tubes.
2) Composition
Pharyngeal tonsil
Tubal tonsil
Palatine tonsil
lingual tonsil
(Tonsillar ring)

22. Spleen 1) Location: in the left hypochondriae region
of the abdomen, its long axis matching the course of the 10th rib

23. (2) Morphology 1) Two surfaces: visceral surface , hilum of spleen
2) Two borders: superior border, notches
3) Two extremities: anterior extremities

24. C. generating lymph cells (T & B cells )
(3) Functions
A. processing aged RBC
B. storing blood
C. generating lymph cells (T & B cells )
D. partaking in immune responses