Lymph Flashcards
What is the role of the lymphatic system?
Drainage + immune responses
What happens to the 10% of tissue fluid left?
It drains into a system of blind ended tubes called lymph capillaries
The liquid is now known as lymph
Why does lymph have less O2 + nutrients compared to plasma + tissue fluid?
Because they’ve been used up by cells
What does the lymph also contain?
Fatty acids that have been absorbed by lymph system in villi of small intestine
How is fluid transported through the lymphatic system?
By body muscles squeezing
One-way valves prevent backflow of lymph
What builds up in the lymph nodes? And what is their role?
Lymphocytes, which produce antibodies + remove bacteria by phagocytosis
Lymphocytes are produced in the bone marrow
What are enlarged lymph nodes a sign of?
A sign the body is fighting off invading pathogens
Where does the lymph eventually return to?
The blood, through the left + right subclavian veins
What is ultrafiltration?
Filtering under pressure of fluid out of blood into tissue fluid, at arterial end of capillary bed
What components are present in the blood?
- RBCs
- WBCs = find lymphocytes in lymph
- Platelets
- Proteins = too big to get through capillary walls to anywhere else
- Water
- Dissolved solutes = moves freely between blood, tissue fluid, + lymph
What components are present in tissue fluid?
- WBCs = only enter tissue in infection
- Few proteins
- Water
- Dissolved solutes
Platelets only present if capillaries damaged
What components are present in lymph?
- WBCs
- Proteins = only antibodies
- Water
- Dissolved solutes
Do tissue fluid + lymph have a higher WP than blood?
Yes
Why are RBCs + proteins not present in tissue fluid and lymph?
They’re too big to get through capillary walls
