Anatomy - Lymphatic System Flashcards

1
Q

What are 3 functions of the lymphatic system?

A
  1. Returning excess interstitial fluid to the bloodstream
  2. Transporting dietary lipids
  3. Immune responses
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How does interstitial fluid re-enter the circulation?

A

By entering:
1. Capillaries at venous ends
2. Lymphatic capillaries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is lymph?

A

Tissue fluid which enters lymphatics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What % of tissue fluid is returned to the blood by the lymphatics?

A

10-20%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why can bacteria, viruses and cancer cells enter the lymphatic system?

A

Lymph capillaries have a very high permeability.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What feature of lymph capillaries allows tissue fluid to enter?

A

Very permeable walls.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

List the lymphatic vessels in order of size.

A

Lymph capillaries < lymphatics < lymph trunk < lymph duct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the function of lymphatics?

A

To collect lymph from the lymph capillaries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Where do lymphatics lie in the body?

A

They accompany the blood vessels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Do lymphatics travel without coming into contact with other lymphatics?

A

No. They have frequent interconnections and many are arranged as networks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How is the back flow of lymph prevented?

A

Valves. Lymphatics have more valves that veins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Where are lymph nodes found? (in general)

A

Scattered along lymphatics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Where are lymph capillaries found?

A

Nearly all tissues in the body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Where are lymph capillaries absent from?

A
  • CNS
  • Bone marrrow
  • Avascular tissues e.g cartilage, nails, epidermis, cornea, hair
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How does the lymphatic system take in dietary lipids

A

Through lacteals which are located in villi of the small intestine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is fatty lymph called?

A

Chyle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Name some of the main groups of regional lymph nodes

A
  • cervical nodes
  • axillary nodes
  • inguinal nodes
  • aortic nodes
  • iliac nodes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How do the lymphatics of the skin work?

A

They run independently of blood vessels.
They drain into nodes where limbs attach to the trunk

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Where are lymph nodes found?

A

Scattered along lymphatics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What surrounds lymph nodes?

A

A fibrous capsule

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How does lymph enter LNs?

A

Through afferent lymph vessels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Through what structure does lymph leave LNs?

A

Through efferent lymph vessels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is the function of a LN? (2)

A
  • lymph percolates through LNs
  • antigens are destroyed and B/T cells are activated
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Lymph from which part of the body don’t pass through a series of lymph nodes?

A
  • Lymph from paired viscera on abdominal wall (ovaries, kidneys, testis)
  • Lymph from thyroid gland
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Where does lymph from paired viscera drain into?
Para-aortic LNs.
26
Where does lymph from the thyroid gland drain into?
Directly into the neck veins, doesn’t pass through any lymph nodes
27
What are the 3 main lymph trunks?
1. Right and left JUGULAR TRUNKS 2. right and left SUBCLAVIAN TRUNKS 3. Right and left BRONCHIOMEDIASTINAL TRUNKS
28
What do the jugular trunks drain?
Head and neck
29
What do the subclavian trunks drain ?
Upper limbs
30
What do the bronchiomediastinal trunks drain?
Much of the thoracic cavity
31
What are the 2 lymphatic ducts in the body?
1. Thoracic duct 2. Right lymphatic duct
32
What does the right lymphatic duct drain?
Right side of head Right UL Right side of thorax
33
Are the two lymphatic duct always present?
No. Right lymphatic duct is only present in 20% of population
34
What forms the right lymphatic duct?
Right subclavian trunk Right bronchomediastinal trunk Right jugular trunk
35
What does the thoracic duct drain?
Entire body except the part drained by right lymphatic duct (or the structure that form it in 80% of population)
36
Where does the thoracic duct begin?
As the cisterna chyli in abdomen
37
Where does the thoracic duct lie in the thoracic cavity ?
Along vertebral bodies
38
Where does the thoracic duct empty back into the veins?
At junction of left IJV and left subclavian vein
39
Where does the right lymphatic duct drain into?
Junction of Right IJV and right subclavian vein
40
How does lymph return to the blood from the ride side of the body if there is no right lymphatic duct?
The trunks (jugular, subclavian, bronchomediastinal) drain directly into right IJV and subclavian
41
How is lymph moved along the lymphatic system?
- contraction of skeletal muscle -pulse in adjacent arteries VALVES PREVENT BACKFLOW
42
What tissue are lymphatic organs made up of?
Lymphatic tissue
43
What do lymphatic organs do?
Filter the lymph to scan for pathogens
44
Are lymph organs encapsulated?
Some are.
45
Name 3 encapsulated lymphatic organs.
-lymph nodes -spleen -thymus
46
Where is the thymus located
Superior mediastinum
47
What is the function of the thymus gland?
Matures T lymphocytes
48
Is the thymus a secondary or primary lymphoid organ?
Primary
49
Describe the growth of the thymus gland
It grows rapidly during the first year of life It stays the same size in adulthood In gets smaller after 60 years old
50
What are the simplest lymphoid organs?
The tonsils
51
What are the 3 groups of tonsils?
- Palatine tonsils (i.e ‘the tonsils’) - Pharyngeal tonsils (i.e ‘the adenoids’) - Lingual tonsils
52
Where are the lingual tonsils?
On back of toungue
53
Wher are the palatine tonsils?
They are the main tonsils that you see when you open your mouth - sides of the throat
54
Where are the pharyngeal tonsils?
Roof of throat
55
What is the function of the tonsils?
They form a ring around the border between the oral cavity and the pharynx They gather and remove pathogens
56
Where is the spleen located?
Left side of abdomen
57
When and how is the spleen commonly injured?
In road traffic accidents Since it is located behind the ribs, when ribs break they damage the spleen
58
What are the functions of the spleen (3)?
-detects and responds to foreign substances - destroy defective RBCs -act as a limited reservoir for blood
59
Why can the spleen act as a reservoir for blood?
It has a very rich blood supply
60
What are 2 lymphoid organs in the latter end of the GIT?
-Peyer’s patches - Appendix
61
What is MALT?
Mucous associated lymphoid tissue
62
Where is MALT found?
Walls of intestine
63
What is the function of MALT?
Fight invading bacteria in intestines
64
Where are Peyer’s patches located?
Distal part of small intestine
65
Where is the Appendix found?
It is a tubular offshoot from the caecum
66
What is chylothorax?
Leakage of fatty lymph into thorax
67
What is mononucleosis?
- A viral disease caused by Epstein-Barr virus (glandular fever) - attacks B lymphocytes
68
What is lymphangitis?
Inflammation of the lymph vessel
69
How can you recognise lymphangitis?
The overlying skin shows inflammation in superficial lymph vessels. Appears as tender, reddened streaks.
70
What happens to the draining lymph nodes when you have an acute infection?
They become enlarged, tender and painful.
71
What is Hodgkin’s disease?
A malignancy of the LNs (cancer) - lymphocytes grow out of control
72
What is Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma?
Uncontrolled multiplication and metastasis of undifferentiated lymphocytes.
73
What is the difference between Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Main difference = the type of WBC that are affected
74
What % of breast lymph drains into the axillary LNs?
75%
75
Where else should you examine if you find a breast lump?
The axillary
76
What are metastases?
This is when cancer cells spread from a tissue into the through lymphatic system and grow and multiply in LNs
77
What do the lymph nodes feel like when there are metastases?
The LNs are enlarged, but they aren’t tender
78
What would happen if the lymphatic vessels were blocked
Edema- swelling of tissues due to excess tissue fluid