Ch. 7.9
cisterna chyli
An enlarged pouchlike structure at the start of the thoracic duct that serves as a storage area for purified lymph before this lymph returns to the bloodstream. The cisterna chyli also receives chyle from the intestinal lacteals.
immunity
: The ability to resist an infection. It is achieved through the presence of antibodies to that disease in a person's system.
tonsils
: Masses of lymphatic tissue that filter interstitial fluid.
spleen
: An organ that produces leukocytes and antibodies, destroys old erythrocytes (red blood cells), stores erythrocytes, destroys thrombocytes, and filters metabolites and wastes from body tissues.
thymus
: A mass of lymph tissue located in the center of the upper chest. During early life, it produces antibodies and manufactures lymphocytes to fight infection.
lacteals
: Specialized lymphatic capillaries in the area of the small intestine that pick up digested fats or lipids.
lymph
A thin, watery fluid composed of intercellular, or interstitial, fluid, which forms when plasma diffuses into tissue spaces.
lymph node
s: Small, round, or oval masses, popularly called "glands," that filter the lymph and remove impurities such as carbon, cancer cells, and pathogens. They also produce lymphocytes and antibodies.
lymphatic vessels
: Formed by joining lymphatic capillaries, these larger vessels pass through the lymph nodes and have valves that keep the lymph flowing in only one direction.
lymphatic system
: The system that consists of lymph, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, and lymphatic tissue. It works in conjunction with the circulatory system to remove wastes and excess fluids from the tissues.
right lymphatic duct
: The short tube that receives all of the purified lymph from the right side of the head and neck, the right chest, and the right arm. It empties into the right subclavian vein, returning the purified lymph to the blood.
thoracic duct
A much larger tube that drains the lymph from the rest of the body. It empties into the left subclavian vein.