| lymph gland | <anatomy> Small bean-shaped organ made up of a loose meshwork of reticular tissue in which are enmeshed large numbers of lymphocytes, macrophages and accessory cells located along the lymphatic system. Recirculating lymphocytes leave the blood through the specialised high endothelial venules of the lymph node and pass through the node before being returned to the blood through the lymphatic system. Because the lymph nodes act as drainage points for tissue fluids, they are also regions in which foreign antigens present in the tissue fluid are most likely to begin to elicit an immune response. Nodes filter out bacteria or cancer cells that may travel through the lymphatic system. Synonym: lymph glands. (14 Oct 1997) |
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| lymph node | <anatomy> Small bean-shaped organ made up of a loose meshwork of reticular tissue in which are enmeshed large numbers of lymphocytes, macrophages and accessory cells located along the lymphatic system. Recirculating lymphocytes leave the blood through the specialised high endothelial venules of the lymph node and pass through the node before being returned to the blood through the lymphatic system. Because the lymph nodes act as drainage points for tissue fluids, they are also regions in which foreign antigens present in the tissue fluid are most likely to begin to elicit an immune response. Nodes filter out bacteria or cancer cells that may travel through the lymphatic system. Synonym: lymph glands. (14 Oct 1997) |
| lymph node excision | Surgical excision of one or more lymph nodes. Its most common use is in cancer surgery. (12 Dec 1998) |
| lymph node of azygos arch | A lymph node of the posterior mediastinal group located adjacent to the arch of the azygos vein. Synonym: nodus lymphaticus arcus venae azygos. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lymph node of ligamentum arteriosum | A lymph node of the anterior mediastinal group located adjacent to the ligamentum arteriosum. Synonym: nodus ligamenti arteriosi, lymph node of ligamentum arteriosum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lymph node permeability factor | A substance, released by lymphocytes when stimulated or damaged, that increases capillary permeability and the accumulation of mononuclear cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lymph nodule | Lymphatic follicle, one of the spherical masses of lymphoid cells, frequently having a more lightly staining centre. See: solitary lymphatic follicles, Peyer's patches. Synonym: folliculus lymphaticus, lymph nodule, nodulus lymphaticus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lymph sacs | The earliest lymphatic vessels formed in the embryo. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lymph scrotum | Brawny swelling of the scrotum as a result of chronic lymphatic obstruction. Synonym: chyloderma, lymph scrotum, parasitic chylocele. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lymph sinus | The channels in a lymph node crossed by a reticulum of cells and fibres and bounded by littoral cells; there are subcapsular, trabecular, and medullary sinus's. Synonym: lymph sinus. Maier's sinus, an infundibuliform depression on the internal surface of the lacrimal sac which receives the lacrimal canaliculi. Marginal sinuses of placenta, discontinuous venous lakes at the margin of the placenta. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lymph space | A space, in tissue or a vessel, filled with lymph. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lymph varix | The formation of varices or cysts in the lymph nodes in consequence of obstruction in the efferent lymphatics. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lymph vessels | The vessels that convey the lymph; they anastomose freely with each other. Synonym: vasa lymphatica, absorbent vessels, lymphatic vessels, lymphatics. (05 Mar 2000) |