Biol 2420 Lecture 10

The Lymphatic System

excess ISF enters highly porous, blind ended lymphatic caps.

empties into the blood stream via ducts near jugular veins

failure or disease affecting the starling forces can cause edema

an accumulaion of fluid

1. obstruction of lymph vessels

elephantiasis or removal of lymph nodes

2. Increase in the net P

heart failure promotes venous pooling, backing up the blood into caps increasing Pc

even more filtration, causes swellings

3. Decrease in net Pi

Liver and kidney disease decrease Pic.

Histamine dilates arterioles (up Pc) and increases intracellular pore size (up cap permeability, up
Pii) double whammy filtration

Veins

thin walled one way valves with high compliance

pressure is lower in veins than in arteries

easily stretched, contain 60% of blood at rest

less elastin, stretch easily

less SM and elastin, more collagen

Functions: low resistance conduits for blood flow to heart

same flow with less pressure because of less resistance

used as a volume reservoir - greater volume than arteries with lower pressure

can be drawn upon when needed

Venous return

CO determined by the rate of venous return

Problem: gravitational forces acting on blood and lymph vessels between the heart and
extremities while upright. below heart level they can fill and be distended

major sites of venous volume changes are smaller veins because of eliptical shape

leads to edema and eventually fainting if venous pooling occurs and persists

Venous return is influenced by:

1. Neural input

walls of veins containing SM are innervated by the Sympa system

NE binds to alpha 1 = constrict

a. Vasoconstriction increases P - promote return to heart with little effect on

resistance

b. increase in wall tension decreases venous compliance - sustained increase in

venous return increases CO

Venous SM responds to hormonal and paracrine constrict and dilators

2. Skeletal Muscle pump

large muscle groups compress deep veins in the extremities when they contract

the one way valves keep the blood flowing in the right direction

so exercise promotes venous and lymph return to heart

 3. Respiratory Pump

venous return depends on the Pressure gradient between peripheral veins and the right
atrium. the right atrial and thoracic vena cavae pressure is affected by changes in the thoracic cavity
pressue

during inspiratoin the chest wall expands and diaphragm descends - reduced thoracic P,
increase in ab P compressing abdominal veins.

increasing the P gradient, promoting blood movement to the heart

the atrial P is also decreased, promoting blood movement to the heart

**larger the inhalation larger the effect

4. Cardiac suction

during systole, the atrial floor moves downward pulling blood towards the heart

the elastic potential energy released in diastole - recoil creating negative pressure -
sucking blood into ventricles.

the magnitude is dependent on the ESV (when lower, causes P gradient and filling rate
to increase)