ch21 lymphatic Flashcards
what is the immune system?
a cell population that inhabits all organs and defends the body from agents of disease
What is the lymphatic system?
Network of organs and vein-like vessels that recover fluid
What are the functions of the lymphatic system?
Fluid recovery
Immunity
Lipid absorption
What is lymph?
A clear colourless fluid, similar to plasma, but low in protein.
Chemical composition varies in different locations
Where/How does lymph originate?
It originates as extracellular fluid drawn into lymphatic capillaries
what is a specific feature of lymphatic capillaries that differentiates them from other capillaries ?
They are non continuous (Terminal lymphatics)
What is the lymphatic capillary wall made up of?
Endothelial cells overlapping eachother like roof tiles
Lymphatic capillaries are found in most tissues, apart from?
CNS, cartilage, cornea, bone, and bone marrow
How are lymphatic capillaries tethered to surrounding tissues?
protein filaments
The gaps between cells in the wall of a lymphatic capillary are large enough to allow what to pass through?
Bacteria and cells
What is the mechanism of fluid moving in and out of lymphatic capillaries?
Endothelium creates valve-like flaps that open when interstitial fluid pressure is high and close when it is low
describe the anatomy of the larger lymphatic vessels.
Composed of three layers
Tunica interna
Tunica media
Tunica externa
Other than moderating flow of fluid in and out of vessels, what is another function of lymphatic valves?
prevent backflow of lymph
How many lymphatic trunks are there?
6
Name the lymphatic trunks
Jugular
subclavian
bronchomediastinal
intercostal
intestinal (unpaired)
lumbar
Name the 2 collecting ducts
Right lymphatic duct
Thoracic duct
What is the function of the right lymphatic duct?
receives lymph from right arm, right side of head and thorax; empties into right subclavian vein
What is the function of the thoracic duct?
receives lymph from below diaphragm, left arm, left side of head, neck, and thorax; empties into left subclavian vein
Which of the collecting ducts is the larger?
Thoracic duct
Where does the thoracic duct originate?
begins as a prominent sac in abdomen called the cisterna chyli
What significantly increases lymphatic return?
Exercise
Does lymph flow at low pressure low speed, or high pressure high speed?
Low pressure
Low speed
What mechanisms aid the flow of lymph?
rhythmic contractions of lymphatic vessels
Skeletal muscle pump
Arterial pulsation
Plasma cells are also known as
B cells
What are B cells also known as
plasma cells
What are natural killer (NK) cells?
Large lymphocytes that attack and destroy bacteria, transplanted tissue, host cells infected with viruses or that have turned cancerous
What are B lymphocytes? (B cells)
lymphocytes that when activated, become plasma cells that produce antibodies
What are T lymphocytes (T cells)
Lymphocytes that mature in the thymus
What are macrophages?
Large phagocytic cells of connective tissue
What cell does a macrophage develop from?
Monocytes
Name the functions of macrophages
Phagocytize tissue debris, dead neutrophils, bacteria and other foreign matter
Antigen presenting cell
What is an antigen presenting cell (APC)?
A cell that processes foreign matter and displays antigenic fragments to certain T cells alerting immune system to the presence of the enemy
What are dendritic cells?
Branched, mobile APCs found in epidermis, mucous membranes, and lymphatic organs
What is the function of a dendritic cell?
Alert immune system to pathogens that have breached the body surface
What is a reticular cell?
Branched stationary cells that contribute to the stroma of a lymphatic organ
How does a reticular cell function?
Engulfs pathogens using receptor mediated endocytosis
What is lymphatic (lymphoid tissue)
aggregations of lymphocytes in the connective tissues of mucous membranes and various organs
What is diffuse lymphatic tissue?
Lymphocytes are scattered (not clustered)
Prevalent in body passages open to the exterior
Respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts
Mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue (MALT)
What are lymphatic nodules?
Dense masses of lymphocytes and macrophages that congregate in response to pathogens
Constant feature of the lymph nodes, tonsils, and appendix
What are the types of lymphatic tissue?
diffuse lymphatic tissue
lymphatic nodules
peyer patches
What is a peyer patch?
dense clusters of lymphocytes in the ileum, the distal portion of the small intestine
How are lymphatic organs anatomically defined?
By the connective tissue capsule that separates the lymphatic tissue from neighbouring organs
Which are the primary lymphatic organs?
Red Bone marrow and thymus
What happens in the primary lymphatic organs?
T and B cells become immunocompetent: able to recognize and respond to antigens
Which are the secondary lymphatic organs?
Lymph nodes, tonsils and spleen
Where do all lymphocytes originate?
Red bone marrow
What happens in the secondary lymphatic organs?
Immunocompetent cells populate the tissues
Which organ systems does the Thymus belong to?
endocrine, lymphatic and immune
Reticular epithelial cells seal off cortex from the medulla forming which barrier?
Blood Thymus Barrier
What are the functions of the Thymus in the lymphatic system?
Houses developing lymphocytes
secretes hormones, regulating their activity
which signalling molecules does the Thymus produce?
interleukins
Interferon
thymosin
thymopoietin
thymulin
How many lymph nodes does the average young adult have?
450
What are the functions of the lymph nodes?
Cleanse the lymph
Act as a site of T and B cell activation.
What occurs in the the Germinal center?
B cells multiply and differentiate into plasma cells
Describe the anatomy of a lymph node
Elongated, bean-shaped structure with hilum
Enclosed with fibrous capsule with trabeculae that divide interior into compartments
Stroma of reticular fibers and reticular cells
What is the function of afferent lymph vessels?
Bring lymph into the node along its convex surface
How many efferent vessels are on a lymphatic node?
1-3
What is the function of efferent lymphatic vessels?
Lymph leaves the node through these
Which lymph nodes are especially concentrated within the body?
Cervical lymph nodes
Axillary lymph nodes
Thoracic lymph nodes
Abdominal lymph nodes
Intestinal and mesenteric lymph nodes
Inguinal lymph nodes
Popliteal lymph nodes
Where do you find cervical lymph nodes and what is their function?
in deep and superficial groups in the neck,
monitor lymph coming from the head and neck.
Where do you find axillary lymph nodes and what is their function?
in the armpit (axilla)
receive lymph from the upper limb and breast.
Where do you find thoracic lymph nodes and what is their function?
in the thoracic cavity, mediastinum,
receive lymph from the mediastinum, lungs, and airway.
Where do you find Abdominal lymph nodes and what is their function?
in the posterior abdominopelvic wall
receive lymph from the urinary and reproductive systems.
Where do you find Intestinal and mesenteric lymph nodes and what is their function?
in the mesenteries and adjacent to the appendix and intestines;
they receive lymph from the digestive tract.
Where do you find Inguinal lymph nodes and what is their function?
in the groin
receive lymph from the entire lower limb.
Where do you find popliteal lymph nodes and what is their function?
at the back of the knee
receive lymph from the leg proper.
What is Lymphadenitis?
swollen, painful node responding to foreign antigen
What is Lymphadenopathy?
collective term for all lymph node diseases
what is a Metastasis of cancer?
cancerous cells break free from original tumor, travel to other sites in the body, and establish new tumors
What is the typical path of metastasized cancer cells through the lymph nodes?
Metastasizing cells easily enter lymphatic vessels
Tend to lodge in the first lymph node they encounter
Multiply there and eventually destroy the node
Tend to spread to the next node downstream
What are tonsils?
patches of lymphatic tissue located at the entrance to the pharynx
Covered with epithelium
Have deep pits: tonsillar crypts lined with lymphatic nodules
What is the main function of tonsils?
Guard against ingested or inhaled pathogens
What is Tonsillitis?
Acute Inflammation due to Strep infection
What is a Tonsillectomy?
Surgical removal of the tonsils
Name the three sets of tonsils
Palatine tonsils
Lingual tonsils
Pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids)
Where are the Palatine tonsils located?
At posterior margin of oral cavity
Where are the Lingual tonsils located?
at root of tongue
Where are the Pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) located?
Single tonsil on wall of nasopharynx
What is the largest lymphatic organ?
The spleen
What are the two types of parenchyma of the spleen?
Red pulp (erythrocytes) White pulp (lymphocytes, macrophages)
What are the functions of the spleen?
Healthy RBCs come and go
RBC graveyard
Blood cell production in fetus
White pulp monitors blood for foreign Ags and keeps an army of monocytes for release when needed
Stabilizes blood volume through plasma transfers to lymphatic system
What are the two types of immune response?
Non-specific (innate)
Specific (immune system)
What are the bodies’ 3 lines of defenses against pathogens?
1: skin and mucous membranes
2: several nonspecific defense mechanisms
3: the immune system
(Defeats a pathogen, and leaves the body with a “memory” of it so it can defeat it faster in the future)
What is the function of Nonspecific defenses?
guard equally against a broad range of pathogens
They lack capacity to remember pathogens
What are the 3 kinds of nonspecific defenses?
Protective proteins
Protective cells
Protective processes
What is Specific or adaptive immunity?
body must develop separate immunity (memory) to each pathogen
Body adapts to a pathogen and wards it off more easily upon future exposure