3.8 The Circulatory & Lymphatic Systems

Circulation Is the Mechanism Behind Every "Stimulating" Service

When a textbook says a service is "stimulating," it means the service increases local blood flow. Scalp massage, facial massage, steam, hot towels, high-frequency current, and even brisk shampooing all raise circulation to the treated area — bringing oxygen and nutrients in and carrying waste out. Understanding the plumbing tells you why a client with high blood pressure, a heart condition, or a circulatory disorder needs a modified service.

The circulatory (cardiovascular) system controls the steady movement of blood through the body and has two divisions:

1. The blood-vascular system — heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins.
2. The lymph-vascular (lymphatic) system — lymph, lymph nodes, and lymph vessels.

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The Heart

The heart is a muscular, cone-shaped organ roughly the size of a closed fist, weighing about 9 ounces, that pumps blood through the vessels. In a normal resting adult it beats about 60 to 80 times per minute. The vagus nerve and autonomic nervous system regulate its rate.

Four chambers:

Valves are structures that temporarily close a passage or permit blood flow in one direction only.

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The Three Vessel Types

HEART --(arteries: away, oxygenated)--> ARTERIOLES --> CAPILLARIES
                                                          |
                                                   tissue exchange
                                                          |
HEART <--(veins: toward, deoxygenated)-- VENULES <--------+

Veins are located closer to the skin's surface than arteries — which is why venous structures are visible on the back of the hand and why aggressive pressure over a superficial vein is inappropriate during massage.

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Blood

Blood is the nutritive fluid circulating through the system. Key facts:

• Approximately 80 percent water.
• Makes up about 8 to 10 percent of total body weight.
• An adult carries roughly 8 to 10 pints.
• Bright red in the arteries (oxygenated), dark red in the veins (deoxygenated).
• Normal body temperature is about 98.6 °F (37 °C).

The primary functions of blood: carry water, oxygen, food, and secretions to cells; carry away carbon dioxide and waste; help equalize body temperature; work with the immune system to protect against harmful bacteria and infection; and clot to close injured vessels.

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Arteries of the Head, Face, and Neck

The common carotid arteries are the main supply to the head, face, and neck, one on each side of the neck. Each divides into an internal and an external branch:

• Internal carotid artery — supplies the brain, eyes, eyelids, forehead, nose, and internal ear.
• External carotid artery — supplies the face, scalp, side of the head, and skin. Its branches are what a facial massage stimulates:

Veins of the face and neck — the internal and external jugular veins — return blood from the head and face to the heart. Facial veins parallel the arteries and carry the same names.

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Vessels of the Arms and Legs

The dorsalis pedis pulse on the top of the foot and the posterior tibial pulse behind the medial malleolus are the two points a podiatrist checks for circulation. A cosmetologist does not diagnose, but a foot that is cold, pale, dusky, or hairless is a reason to refer rather than to proceed with an aggressive pedicure.

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The Lymphatic System

Lymph is a clear, yellowish fluid that circulates in the lymph spaces of the body. It is formed when blood plasma filters through capillary walls into the surrounding tissue.

Primary functions:

1. Carry nourishment from the blood to body cells.
2. Act as a defense against invading bacteria and toxins, through lymph nodes that filter the fluid.
3. Remove waste from the cells and return it to the bloodstream.
4. Provide a suitable fluid environment for the cells.

Unlike blood, lymph has no pump. It moves through muscle contraction, breathing, and external pressure — which is exactly what lymphatic drainage massage supplies. Facial drainage technique uses light, rhythmic, directional strokes toward the lymph node clusters in front of and behind the ear, along the jawline, and at the base of the neck. Heavy pressure defeats the purpose: lymph vessels sit just beneath the skin, and deep pressure compresses them shut.

Contraindication note. Increased circulation is not always desirable. Clients with uncontrolled hypertension, recent surgery, active infection, thrombosis, or a diagnosed lymphatic disorder should have vigorous massage, heat, steam, and stimulating current omitted and should be referred to a physician.