1. Lymphatic System
Subdivision of the circulatory system
Removes foreign material and cell debris
Destroy cells through action of lymphocytes
Returns tissue fluid from intercellular spaces
to venous system
2. Usually not palpable
Vessels are lined with a single layer of
epithelial cells
Comprises: lymph capillaries, vessels, lymph
nodes, aggregation of lymph tissue (spleen,
thymus & tonsils)
Collects from tissue via:
lymphatic capillaries vessels ducts
Lymphatic System
4. Lymph nodes
Small
Prevent infections
F1: production of lymphocytes
F2: Production of antibodies and antitoxins
F3: Filters bacteria & foreign material
Bean-shaped
Fibrous capsule
Network of reticular fibers
Dense arrangement of lymphocytes
Lymphatic System
5. Thoracic Duct
Drains: whole body
Except:
R side of head & neck
R side of thorax
R arm
Continuation of the cisterna chyli T12-L2
Enters thorax posterior to aorta
Through the diaphragm (T12)
Runs along vertebral column
6. Thoracic Duct
Ascends through posterior mediastinum
Between thoracic aorta & azygos vein
Crosses from right to left posterior to
oesophagus T5 – T7
Enters superior mediastinum
Runs to the root of neck
C7 arches left, opens in venous angle
Subclavian & internal jugular unite
7. Right Lymphatic Duct
Short duct
Drains remaining parts of body
Runs in root of neck
Formed by the junction of R jugular,
subclavian & bronchomediastinal trunks
Opens – brachiocephalic vein
11. Lymphatic Drainage Thoracic
Wall
Skin (superficial to deep fascia)
Superior to plane of umblicus drain to the anterior
& posterior axillary lymph nodes
Inferior to plane of umblicus drain to the inguinal
lymph nodes
Muscular wall & pleura (deep to deep fascia)
3 groups – parasternal, posterior intercostal
& diaphragmatic nodes
13. Areas Lymph nodes
Intercostal spaces Anteriorly – parasternal nodes
Posteriorly – posterior intercostal nodes
Wall (periphery of
diaphragm)
Diaphragmatic nodes
Parietal pleura Parasternal, posterior intercostal &
diaphragmatic
Lymphatic Drainage Thoracic
Wall
Left & right thoracic wall drain into thoracic duct and right lymphatic
duct, respectively
14. Lymphatic Drainage Thoracic
Contents
3 groups of lymph nodes
Superior mediastinal lymph nodes
Posterior mediastinal lymph nodes
Tracheobronchial lymph nodes
Superior mediastinal
Posterior mediastinal
Tracheobronchial
15. Groups of lymph
nodes
Afferent Vessels Efferent Vessels
Superior Mediastinal Thymus, thyroid &
pericardium
Form right & left
bronchomediastinal
Posterior Mediastinal Oesophagus, post.
part of pericardium
& diaphragm
Mainly into thoracic
duct, few into
tracheobronchial
Tracheobronchial Lungs, bronchi,
thoracic part
trachea & heart
Form right & left
bronchomediastinal
trunks
Lymphatic Drainage Thoracic
Contents
16. Lymphatic Drainage Thoracic
Contents
Tracheobronchial nodes – 5 groups
Paratracheal
Superior tracheobronchial
Inferior tracheobronchial
Bronchopulmonary
Pulmonary
Left & right bronchomediastinal trunks drain
into thoracic duct & right lymphatic duct
Paratracheal Paratracheal
Inferior
tracheobronchial
Superior tracheobronchial
Bronchiopulmonary
Bronchiopulmonary
Pulmonary
Pulmonary
Superior tracheobronchial
19. Lymph nodes in Axilla
Six groups
Lateral group – medial aspect of arm
Pectoral/anterior group – lateral & anterior chest,
breast & upper abdominal wall
Subscapular/posterior group – back, shoulder &
neck
Central group – lateral, posterior & anterior groups
Deltopectoral group – lateral aspect of arm
Apical/infraclavicular group – lymph of arm
drains directly or indirectly into this group
21. Upper Limb
2 groups of vessels:
Superficial group drain the skin
Medial vessels: basilic vein – drain to axillary
nodes
Lateral vessels: cephalic vein – drain apical
nodes
Deep group drains, bone and muscle
Run with deep veins to drain the forearm via
the supratrochlear nodes lateral group
apical nodes
22. Lymph nodes in Axilla
All the lymph nodes eventually drain into:
Right
Into the right subclavian lymphatic trunk then into
the right lymphatic duct
Left
Into the left subclavian lymphatic trunk then into
the thoracic duct
23.
24. The Breast
Lymph is drained directly/indirectly via:
Seven groups: (7th parasternal nodes)
25. The Breast
Breast tissue..1
Drain along vascular tributaries to Sappey’s
subareolar lymph plexus
Medial border – drains to parasternal nodes
Inferiomedial quadrant – drains to
abdominal lymph nodes
75% of lymph drains to axillary nodes – tail
of Spence via pectoral nodes
26. Breast tissue..2
Lateral border – drains via lateral branches
of intercostal a. – parasternal or posterior
intercostal nodes
Deep surface drains through pectoralis major
terminates in apical nodes
The Breast
27. Skin of Breast
Drains radially to surrounding glands
e.g. laterally to axillary nodes, medially to
parasternal nodes
Lymphatic drainage from left and right
breast do communicate
Axillary nodes infraclavicular nodes
subclavian lymphatic trunk R lymphatic
duct or thoracic duct
The Breast
28. Lymphatic drainage
Subdiaphragmatic to abdomen / liver
Parasternal
to other breast
Axillary lymph nodes
(75%)
Clavicular lymph nodes
Intrapectoral
30. Axillary Lymph Nodes (75%)
Subdiaphragmatic to abdomen / liver
Pectoral / anterior**
along lateral
thoracic v
Subscapular / post
along subscapular v
Lateral / humeral
along axillary v
Central
Related to the
intercosto-
brachial n
Apical
above the level of
pectoralis minor
33. Lymphatic Drainage of H&N
No lymphatics in CNS
Only superficial nodes in head
Superficial & Deep nodes in neck
Associated with veins & organized around
fascia
34. Lymphatic Drainage of the Head and Neck
Deep cervical lymph nodes
Terminal lymph nodes
Superior eg. Jugulo-digastric or Inferior eg. Jugulo-omohyoid
Regional lymph nodes
for superficial structures
Occipital, Pre and Posterior auricular,
parotid and Buccal, Superficial cervical,
submandibular and Submental, Anterior
jugular, External jugular
Regional lymph nodes
for deep structures
Prelaryngeal, pretracheal, paratracheal,
infrahyoid, retropharyngeal
Scalp
Eyelids
Nose
Lips
Nasal cavity, paranasal air sinuses,
nasopharynx, middle ear, larynx, thyroid
gland, oral cavity, teeth, tonsil, tongue,
pharynx, cervical oesophagus
Deep structures
Superficial structures
42. Lymphatic Drainage of H&N
Deep cervical (terminal) nodes
Efferent lymph vessels unite – jugular lymph
trunks
Right open – brachiocephalic vein
Left open – thoracic duct
43. Lymphatic Drainage of Specific
Structures
Scalp
Rich lymphatic network
Vertex
Spreads in all direction
44. Eyelids & Conjunctiva
Lateral ¾ - parotid group
Medial ¼ - submandibular group
Lymphatic Drainage of Specific
Structures
45. Nose
Surface – submandibular group
Root – parotid group
Anterior nasal cavity – submandibular group
Posterior nasal cavity – deep cervical nodes
Sinuses – retropharyngeal group
Lymphatic Drainage of Specific
Structures
46. Lips
Upper lip – submandibular group
Lower lip – submental & submandibular
nodes
Lymphatic Drainage of Specific
Structures
53. Lymphatic Drainage of Anterior &
Posterior Abdominal Wall
Skin
Superior to plane of umblicus drain to the anterior
& posterior axillary lymph nodes
Inferior to plane of umblicus drain to the
superficial inguinal lymph nodes
Skin of scrotum drain to superficial inguinal
lymph nodes
54. Deep lymphatic vessels
Drain to nodes adjacent to internal thoracic a. &
external iliac a.
Drain in relation to iliac vessels, aorta and inferior
vena cava
Lymphatic Drainage of Anterior &
Posterior Abdominal Wall
55. Lymphatic drainage of the GIT
Organ Regional node
Central (terminal)
node
Abdominal oesophagus Left gastric Coeliac
Stomach
Gastric
Gastro-omental
Pancreaticosplenic
Coeliac
Duodenum anterior Pancreaticoduodenal Coeliac
Duodenum posterior Pyloric Superior mesenteric
Jejunum and Ileum Mesenteric Superior mesenteric
Pancreas
Pancreaticosplenic
Pyloric
Coeliac
Superior mesenteric
56. Organ Regional node
Central (terminal)
node
Liver
Hepatic mainly
Phrenic partly
Coeliac
Posterior mediastinal
Gall Bladder Hepatic Coeliac
Terminal ileum, Caecum,
Appendix
Iliocolic Superior mesenteric
Ascending & Proximal
2/3rds of transverse colon
Paracolic
Middle colic
Superior mesenteric
Distal 1/3rd & descending
transverse colon, Sigmoid
colon
Paracolic
Left colic
Inferior mesenteric
Spleen Pancreaticosplenic Coeliac
Lymphatic drainage of the GIT
57. Organ Area
Central (terminal)
node
Kidneys Right & Left lumbar
Suprarenal glands Lumbar
Ureters
Superior part
Join those of kidney
Directly to lumbar
Middle part Common iliac nodes
Inferior part
Common, external or
internal iliac nodes
Lymphatic drainage of the Kidney,
Ureters and Suprarenal glands
58. Pre-Aortic Nodes Region
Coeliac group
Structures part of abdominal foregut
Receive lymph from superior and inferior
mesenteric nodes
Superior mesenteric group
Structures part of abdominal midgut
Receive lymph from the inferior mesenteric
nodes
Inferior mesenteric group Structures part of abdominal hindgut
Lymphatic drainage of the GIT
Summary
61. Lymphatic Drainage of Pelvis
4 Primary groups lie in relation to great blood
vessels
External, internal & common iliac vessels
Sacral nodes lie in relation to sacrum
All drain into common iliac nodes lumbar
nodes
Common iliac nodes directly or indirectly drain
lower limb, lower part of abdominal wall &
pelvic organs
62. Organ Region Lymph nodes
Bladder
Apex & body External iliac nodes
Neck Common iliac nodes
Rectum
Superior half
Pararectal inferior mesenteric
nodes via sacral nodes
Inferior half Sacral nodes or internal iliac nodes
Anal canal
Superior to pectinate line
Internal iliac common iliac
lumbar nodes
Inferior to pectinate line Superficial inguinal nodes
Lymphatic drainage of Pelvis
63. Male Organs Region Lymph nodes
Prostate Internal iliac & sacral nodes
Urethra
Proximal &
intermediate
Internal iliac external iliac nodes
Distal Deep inguinal nodes
Vas deferens External iliac nodes
Seminal glands
Superior part External iliac nodes
Inferior part Internal iliac nodes
Ejaculatory ducts External iliac nodes
Lymphatic drainage of Intrapelvic
Sex Organs
64. Female Organs Region Lymph nodes
Uterus
Fundus Lumbar & superficial inguinal nodes
Body External iliac nodes
Cervix External, internal or sacral nodes
Vagina
Upper part External, internal or sacral nodes
Middle part Internal iliac nodes
Lower part Superficial inguinal nodes
Ovaries & uterine tubes Lumbar nodes
Female urethra
Proximal part Internal iliac & sacral nodes
Distal urethra Inguinal nodes
Lymphatic drainage of Intrapelvic
Sex Organs
65. Lymphatic drainage of External
Genital Organs
Male organs Region Lymph nodes
Penis
Skin Superficial inguinal nodes
Glans
Deep inguinal & external iliac
nodes
Carvenous bodies Internal iliac nodes
Scrotum Superficial inguinal nodes
Testis & epididymis Lumbar nodes
Female organs Region Lymph nodes
Vulva Superficial inguinal nodes
Glans clitoris & labia Deep inguinal nodes
72. Deep Inguinal Nodes
Vary in number between 1-3
Lie medial to femoral vein
Nodes located as follows:
Great saphenous vein join femoral vein
In femoral sheath
Lateral part of femoral ring
73. Deep Inguinal Nodes
Receive afferent vessels deeper structures
Glans of penis
Connection with superficial inguinal groups
also exists
75. Intermediate Nodes
5-6 nodes surround popliteal vessels - fossa
Drain deep inguinal nodes external iliac
nodes
1 lies below deep fascia
Next to small saphenous vein
Drains same area as small saphenous vein