Home      Discussion      Topics      Dictionary      Almanac
Signup       Login
Subcapsular sinus

Subcapsular sinus

Overview
The subcapsular sinus (lymph path, lymph sinus, marginal sinus) is a region within the lymph node
Lymph node
A lymph node is an organ consisting of many types of cells, and is a part of the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes are found all through the body, and act as filters or traps for foreign particles. They contain white blood cells that use oxygen to process. Thus they are important in the proper...

 immediately deep to the capsule that contains relatively sparse lymphocyte
Lymphocyte
A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell in the vertebrate immune system.By their appearance under the light microscope, there are two broad categories of lymphocytes, namely the large granular lymphocytes and the small lymphocytes. Functionally distinct subsets of lymphocytes correlate with...

s. It thus allows lymph
Lymph
Lymph is the interstitial fluid found between the cells of the human body. It enters the lymph vessels by filtration through pores in the walls of capillaries...

 to flow freely through it.

The lymph node contains lymphoid tissue, i.e., a meshwork or fibers called reticulum with white blood cell
White blood cell
White blood cells , or leukocytes , are cells of the immune system defending the body against both infectious disease and foreign materials. Five different and diverse types of leukocytes exist, but they are all produced and derived from a multipotent cell in the bone marrow known as a...

s enmeshed in it. The regions where there are few cells within the meshwork are known lymph sinus.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Subcapsular sinus'
Start a new discussion about 'Subcapsular sinus'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum
 
Encyclopedia
The subcapsular sinus (lymph path, lymph sinus, marginal sinus) is a region within the lymph node
Lymph node
A lymph node is an organ consisting of many types of cells, and is a part of the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes are found all through the body, and act as filters or traps for foreign particles. They contain white blood cells that use oxygen to process. Thus they are important in the proper...

 immediately deep to the capsule that contains relatively sparse lymphocyte
Lymphocyte
A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell in the vertebrate immune system.By their appearance under the light microscope, there are two broad categories of lymphocytes, namely the large granular lymphocytes and the small lymphocytes. Functionally distinct subsets of lymphocytes correlate with...

s. It thus allows lymph
Lymph
Lymph is the interstitial fluid found between the cells of the human body. It enters the lymph vessels by filtration through pores in the walls of capillaries...

 to flow freely through it.

The lymph node contains lymphoid tissue, i.e., a meshwork or fibers called reticulum with white blood cell
White blood cell
White blood cells , or leukocytes , are cells of the immune system defending the body against both infectious disease and foreign materials. Five different and diverse types of leukocytes exist, but they are all produced and derived from a multipotent cell in the bone marrow known as a...

s enmeshed in it. The regions where there are few cells within the meshwork are known lymph sinus. It is lined by reticular cells, fibroblast
Fibroblast
A fibroblast is a type of cell that synthesizes the extracellular matrix and collagen, the structural framework for animal tissues, and plays a critical role in wound healing...

s and fixed macrophage
Macrophage
Macrophages are white blood cells within tissues, produced by the division of monocytes. Human macrophages are about in diameter...

s.

Thus, subcapsular (sub=below) sinus lies immediately deep to the capsule of the lymph node and immediately above the cortex. It is continuous with the similar lymph sinuses that flank the trabeculae (the extensions of capsule within the substance of the lymph node).

The subcapsular sinus is of clinical importance as it is the most likely location where the earliest manifestations of a metastatic carcinoma in a lymph node would be found.

External links

- "Lymphoid Tissues and Organs: lymph node, afferent arterioles"