Formation of tissue fluid and lymph LO1

Question 1

What does the lymphatic system consist of?

Answer 1

Lymph passes through vessels of increasing size before returning to the blood. The lymphatic system consists of:
- lymph
- lymph vessels
- lymph nodes
- lymph organs e.g. the spleen and thymus
- bone marrow

Question 2

What is the role of the lymphatic system?

Answer 2

• it is a drainage and filtrations system
• it removes excess fluid from body tissues
• it absorbs fatty acids, and transports fat into the bloodstream to be absorbed in the small intestine
• it produces white blood cells, which in turn produce antibodies

Question 3

What is the role of hydrostatic pressure?

Answer 3

hydrostatic pressure is the pressure from heart contractions that forces water and dissolved substances in blood plasma out through capillary walls into surrounding tissues, forming tissue fluid

Question 4

Blood plasma

Answer 4

• clear straw-coloured liquid component of blood
• contains plasma proteins, which have roles in blood clotting and supporting the immune system
• osmotic regulation (control of the water content of the body, avoiding too much water entering or leaving the cells)

Question 5

Tissue fluid

Answer 5

• fluid between body cells
• also known as interstitial fluid
• carries nutrients and oxygen tot tissue cells
• is formed from filtering of blood from capillaries due to hydrostatic pressure

Question 6

Lymph

Answer 6

• filtered watery fluid drained by the lymphatic system
• formed from plasma
• contains white blood cells
• lymph is involved in the removal of wastes and infectious organisms from tissues

Question 7

What are blood proteins (also called plasma proteins)?

Answer 7

-The most abundant plasma proteins are albumins, which are the main contributors to the thickness, or viscosity, of plasma and to osmotic pressure. This pressure retains fluid within blood vessels- it is the opposite force to hydrostatic pressure. if plasma proteins levels fall, the osmotic pressure also falls and fluid leaking from the bloodstream can accumulate in the tissues and cause a condition call oedema.
-The second most abundant group of plasma proteins are the protective proteins

Question 8

What is oedema?

Answer 8

A build-up of fluid in the body that causes the affected tissue to become swollen. The swelling can occur in one particular part of the body or may be more general, depending on the cause

Question 9

What is blood coagulation or blood clotting?

Answer 9

An important process that prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured. Platelets and proteins in your blood plasma (the liquid part of blood) work together to stop the bleeding by forming a clot over the injury.