EMS Care EMT Chapter 24-MCIT-F3-2105 | Anatomy and Physiology starts with an introduction to the topic. This chapter covers the essential knowledge of the human body that every EMT needs to understand in order to asses and manage patients effectively

The lessons included are

• Lesson 1: Musculoskeletal System.
• Lesson 2: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems.
• Lesson 3: Nervous, Integumentary, and Digestive Systems.
• Lesson 4: Lymphatic, Endocrinal, Urinary, and Genital Systems.
• Lesson 5: Life Support Chain.

Excerpt from EMS Care EMT Chapter 24-MCIT-F3-2105 | Anatomy and Physiology

The lymphatic system supports the circulatory and immune systems. This system is responsible for the production of a substance called lymph, which is a thin and straw-colored fluid that carries nutrients and oxygen to cells and takes waste products away from them. It also helps the body to get rid of toxins and other harmful materials.

It consists of lymph, lymphatic vessels to carry them, and the lymphatic organs that include lymph nodes, tonsils, spleen, and thymus.

Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped structures that are usually less than 2.5 cm in length. They are widely distributed throughout the body along the lymphatic pathways where they filter the lymph before it is returned to the blood.

Tonsils are clusters of lymphatic tissue just under the mucous membranes that line the nose, mouth, and throat. They protect harmful substances and pathogens that may enter the body through the nose or mouth.

The thymus is a soft organ with two lobes that are located anterior to the ascending aorta and posterior to the sternum. The primary function of the thymus is the processing and maturation of special lymphocytes called T-lymphocytes or T-cells. While in the thymus, the lymphocytes do not respond to pathogens and foreign agents. After the lymphocytes have matured, they enter the blood and go to other lymphatic organs where they help provide defense against disease.