Essay Sample on Functions of the Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system has three essential functions that include the elimination of excess fluids from the body. The removal of surplus fluids remains a vital aspect of body function since proteins, water, and other substances persistently seep out of small capillaries of the blood into the adjacent body tissues (Moore Jr & Bertram, 2018). The lymphatic system ensures that the lymph fluids do not accumulate in the body tissues and make the tissues to swell.

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Besides, the lymphatic system ensures the absorption of fatty acids and the consequent conveyance of fat to the circulatory system (Moore Jr & Bertram, 2018). Furthermore, the lymphatic system enhances the production of immune cells, such as monocytes, lymphocytes, and antibody, creating cells known as plasma cells.

The Lymphatic System

The lymphoid organs contain the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, bone marrow, and mucosa-related lymphoid tissue of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts. Lymphoid tissues refer to the muscles in which lymphocytes exist, such as the lymph nodes, spleen, adenoids, thymus, and tonsils (Moore Jr & Bertram, 2018). The lymph or the lymphatic capillaries refers to small thin-walled vessels, sealed at one end, and situated in the spaces between cells throughout the body, excluding the non-vascular tissues and central nervous system.

Besides, the lymphatic vessels (lymphatics) refers to tubes (thin-walled vessels) organized like blood vessels, that transmit lymph. Lymphatic trunk refers to large lymph vessel that forms from the convergence of several efferent vessels. They include the jugular, subclavian, Broncho-mediastinal, lumbar, and intestinal lymph trunk (Moore Jr & Bertram, 2018). A lymph duct entails a great lymphatic vessel that empties lymph into one of the subclavian veins and includes the thoracic and the right lymphatic duct.

Lymphatic and Blood Vascular System

Blood vessels create an entire circuit from and to the heart with vessels like veins, arteries, and capillaries; thus, a two-way system. The lymphatic system lacks arteries and starts with blind-ended lymph capillaries (Aaronson et al., 2020). Hence it remains a one-way system. The circulatory transports and distributes essential molecules like oxygen and nutrients and collects waste products like carbon dioxide for excretion.

Respiratory System

The upper respiratory tract includes the nasal passages and the nose, the pharynx, paranasal sinuses, and the larynx portion above the vocal cords (folds). The lower respiratory tract comprises the part of the larynx below the vocal cords, bronchi, trachea, and bronchioles (Ogoh, 2019). The conducting zone that refers to the entire respiratory system from the nose to the smallest bronchioles transports air into and out of the lungs.

The respiratory region consists of bronchioles and alveoli and transmits carbon dioxide and oxygen in and out of the blood. Larynx (voice box) refers to a hollow, tubular structure attached to the top of the trachea (windpipe). Air passes through the larynx as it moves to the lungs (Ogoh, 2019). The larynx creates vocal sounds and safeguards the movement of food and other foreign objects into the lower respiratory tracts.

The Digestive System

Ingestion begins the process of food flow in which chewing mechanically mixes food with saliva from the salivary glands. The food then gets pushed towards the esophagus, where rhythmic contractions move the food to the stomach through a peristaltic process (Thomson & Friendship, 2019). In the stomach, the food mixes with gastric juice, where it runs to the duodenum and exit through the ileum. In the small intestine, the food gets absorbed into the body. The undigested food moves into the large intestines called caecum, then to the colon, and finally to the rectum. Egestion of food occurs at the anus.

Deciduous teeth begin to develop during the embryonic phase and commence to emerge through the gums after six months of birth. The deciduous teeth then fall out at about six years and get replaced by 32 permanent adult teeth (Thomson & Friendship, 2019). The histological structure of the intestine consists of the duodenum, jejunum (ileum), colon, appendix, rectum, and the anal canal. The mucosa contains the epithelium, lamina propria, and muscularis mucosae.

Human Glands

The pituitary glands refer to a small pea-sized gland that regulates essential body functions and general wellbeing. Besides, it controls the operations of several other hormone-secreting organs (McConnell & Hull, 2020). The thyroid gland refers to an endocrine gland found in the neck. It produces two hormones that get secreted into the blood, including the thyroxine (T4) and the triiodothyronine (T3).

These hormones remain essential for the entire function of the cells in the human body to effectively operate normally (McConnell & Hull, 2020). The pancreas refers to an organ situated in the abdomen that converts food into energy that cells use. The pancreas works as an exocrine that enables the digestion and as an endocrine that regulates blood sugar.

Urinary System

Nephron refers to the primary unit of structure in the kidney. Nephron helps in the separation of water, small molecules, and ions from the blood, sieve out toxins and wastes and return required units to the blood (McConnell & Hull, 2020). The nephron operates through ultrafiltration. Urine gets formed in the kidneys through the filtration of blood. The urine then passes through the ureters to the bladder, where it gets kept. During urination, urine passes from the bladder through the urethra to the outside of the body.

Blood flows into the kidneys through the renal artery and enters the glomerulus in Bowman's capsule. In the glomerulus, the blood flow gets filtered into fifty capillaries with thin walls (McConnell & Hull, 2020). After passing the afferent arteriole, the sieved blood enters the vasa recta. Blood exits the kidney through the renal vein.

Reproductive System

The male reproductive system consists of the testes, scrotum, spermatic duct, penis, and sex glands. These organs function together to produce sperm, the male gamete, and the other components of semen. The female reproductive system comprises of the ovaries, fallopian tube, vagina, uterus, mammary glands, vulva, and breasts (Choma & Stulz, 2020). The female organs produce sex hormones and enable the creation and conveyance of gametes.

The ovarian cycle includes ovulation, follicular stage, and the luteal stage. It refers to the phases of transformation in the ovary during which the follicle matures, the ovum gets shed, and the corpus luteum grows. The follicular stage describes the follicle's growth in response to the follicle stimulation hormone (FSH). As luteinizing hormone (LH) and FSH levels increase, they stimulate ovulation (Choma & Stulz, 2020). In the luteal stage, the corpus luteum develops on the ovary and secretes several hormones like progesterone that creates the endometrium of the uterus ready for implantation of an embryo. Germ layers are the three essential cell layers developed in the early phases of embryonic growth, including the endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm.

References

Aaronson, P. I., Ward, J. P., & Connolly, M. J. (2020). The cardiovascular system at a glance. John Wiley & Sons. www.wiley.com/en-gb/The+Cardiovascular+System+at+a+Glance%2C+5th+Edition-p-x000938276

Choma, K. K., & Stulz, V. (2020). Nursing assessment: reproductive system. Lewis's Medical-Surgical Nursing: Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems, 1338-1361. www.researchdirect.westernsydney.edu.au/islandora/object/uws:53519/

McConnell, T. H., & Hull, K. L. (2020). Human form, human function: Essentials of anatomy & physiology. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. www.books.google.com/books?

Moore Jr, J. E., & Bertram, C. D. (2018). Lymphatic system flows. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, 50, 459-482. www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-fluid-122316-045259

Ogoh, S. (2019). Interaction between the respiratory system and cerebral blood flow regulation. Journal of Applied Physiology, 127(5), 1197-1205. www.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/japplphysiol.00057.2019

Thomson, J. R., & Friendship, R. M. (2019). Digestive system. Diseases of Swine, 234-263. www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781119350927.ch15