Lymph Flashcards
What are the 3 functions of lymph vessels?
1) Collection of tissue fluid and its return to the systemic circulation.
2) Transport of lymphocytes and other cells
3) Uptake and transport of long chain fatty acids absorbed in the intestine.
What is tissue fluid comprised of?
Plasma (water, proteins. lipids extruded from blood capillaries into connective tissue matrix)
How much of lymph fluid is returned to systemic circulation? How?
20%, via lymph vessels
What happens to the lymph fluid that is not returned to systemic circulation?
It is removed from blood capillaries and pespiration
What is the consequence if fluid/protein return is compromised?
Lymphoedema
Where are lymphocytes produced?
Lymph nodes
Where are lymph nodes located?
Along the course of larger lymph vessels and by other lymphatic organs and tissues.
What are some examples of lymphatic organs and tissues?
Spleen and gut associated lympatic tissue (GALT)
What does it mean to be a long chain fatty acid?
More than 12 carbons.
What is the fate of long chain fatty acids?
1) Absorbed by the intestinal epithelial cells
2) Transported across into extracellular space and into lymph vessels (lacteals) of the intestinal villi.
What happens to lymph in the lacteals?
Transported to thoracic duct and ultimately into bloodstream.
What is the fate of smaller fatty acids?
Taken up into bloodstream and then into the portal vein and the liver.
What are lymph capillaries? What are they initially? What do they become?
1) Blindly ending (arising) tubes in connective tissue
2) Plexus
3) Anastomose to form larger vessels.
Lymph vessels are large. T or F? What is the largest lymph vessel?
False.
Thoracic duct, 2-5 mm diameter.
The walls of lymph vessels are thick. T or F?
False. They are all very thin walled.
How does lymph fluid return?
Similar to veins. Gravity, pressure from adjacent organs, viscera etc. They also have lots of valves.
Even the small lymph vessels have their own vaso vasorum. T or F?
False. Only the larger lymph vessels have their own blood supply of small veseels forming a plexus in the wall.
Lymph vessels undergo fast repair. T or F?
True.
Lymph vessels undergo anastomoses only between vessels of similar sizes. T or F.
False. Lymph vessels anastomose between vessels of all sizes.
Lymph vessels often follow larger blood vessels on the internal surface.
False. Lymph vessels often follow larger blood vessels as a plexus on thier adventitia.
Lymph vessels are NOT found in the CNS, bone marrow and avascular tissue. T or F?
True. They are not found in cornea, epidermis and cartilage.
Lymph vessels are independent to lymph nodes. T or F?
False. They are associated.
Lymphatic organs can range from 25-50mm long. T or F?
False. 1-25mm.
What are the proliferative structures of the lymph system called?
Lymph nodules
What role does the lymph nodule have?
- Produce lymphocytes and other cells of the immune system which are involved in immunosurveillence of lymph
- Add lymphocytes to lymph
Lymph vessels can only pass through one node on it way back to the circulation. T or F?
False. They pass through at least one node.
How many lymph nodes are there in the neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis and groin region?
300-400.
How many lymph nodes in the limbs?
Relatively few.
How are lymph nodes named?
According to whether they are superficial or deep and on the basis of associated structures.
Lymph nodes are ALWAYS situated along most lymph vessels. T or F?
True