Lymph Lecture

Question 1

What are the functions of the lymphatic system?

Answer 1

Tissue drainage

Return of plasma and plasma proteins to circulatory system

Absorbed fat transport from gut

Immunity - great opportunity for antigen presentation

Question 2

What are the constituents of the lymphatic system?

Answer 2

Lymphatic vessels - Differ from blood vessels in that they absorb proteins and other large molecules from tissue fluid

Lymphatic tissues – no basement membrane
Thymus, spleen, tonsils, nodules, bone marrow too

Question 3

How does lymphatic system stop oedema?

Answer 3

Collects plasma proteins from extracellular space, these proteins are osmotically active

Question 4

Lymph is fluid and plasma proteins only, but how does it collect lymphocytes?

Answer 4

As the lymph flows through the lymphatic capillaries and channels.

Question 5

When is fat added to the lymph?

Answer 5

Small intestine?

Question 6

What does lymph flow rely on?

Answer 6

Muscle contraction, gravity and pressure changes.

Question 7

What do the valves of the lymph cause?

Answer 7

Unidirectional travel

Question 8

What does the protein accumulation during an infection cause?

Answer 8

Fluid flow into extracellular spaces, this drives increased lymph flow and therefore immune response in nodes, as more antigens are presented and phagocytosis occurs.

Question 9

What type of lymphoid organ are lymph nodes?

Answer 9

Secondary lymphoid tissue

Question 10

Where are groups isolated or grouped?

Answer 10

At the bases of major arterial trunks

Question 11

Does a lymph node have a blood supply?

Answer 11

Yes

Question 12

Lymph flows slowly over lymph node (germinal centre - white cells, they contain B cell and T cell zone) because?

Answer 12

Allows antigenic presentation to occur

Question 13

What is the name given to the secondary lymphoid follicles?

Answer 13

Germinal Centres

Question 14

Give an example of Inert particles that will be filtered out in lymph nodes?

Answer 14

Carbon particles in a hilar lymph node (lung) (carbon containing = anthracotic)

Tattoo pigment in an axillary lymph node

Question 15

What are the different drainage routes?

Answer 15

Limbs, cavities

Lymphatic vessels are absent from the eyeball, CNS, inner ear, epidermis, cartilage and bone

Question 16

What is the drainage route for superficial area on the limbs?

Answer 16

Follow superficial veins

Question 17

What is the drainage route for deep areas of the limbs?

Answer 17

Follow deep arteries and veins

E.g Muscle

Question 18

What is the drainage route for body cavities?

Answer 18

follow deep arteries

Question 19

What is the purpose of the saphenous opening?

Answer 19

Allows superficial drainage to pass through the deep fascia of thigh into the deep tissue drainage

Question 20

Where are 50% of nodes?

Answer 20

In the abdomen and pelvis, associated with the gut

Question 21

What are pre-aortic nodes?

Answer 21

On the front

Question 22

Give examples of lymph node pathology

Answer 22

Primary tumours - lymphoma

Secondary tumours

Infections such as tuberculosis and glandular fever (mononucleosis)

Inflammatory hyperplasia

Question 23

Initially drainage from the imbs, head and neck and trunk is Symmetrical?Unsymmetrical?

Answer 23

Symmetrical

Question 24

Where does all lymph congregate?

Answer 24

2 Large lymph ducts

These empty into the venous system at the Jugular/ Subclavian junction

Question 25

What is Lymph returning from the small intestine laden with?

Answer 25

Absorbed fats,

Eventually drains to the SVC (superior vena cava) and to the liver for absorption

Question 26

What are the primary Lymphoid tissues?

Answer 26

Thymus and Bone marrow

Question 27

What are the other lymphoid tissue?

Answer 27

Spleen (2o)
Lymph nodes (2o)
Peyer’s patches (2o)
Tonsils
Lymphocytes

Question 28

What is the largest lymphatic organ?

Answer 28

Spleen

Question 29

How is the contents of the spleen discharged?

Answer 29

Muscle action

Question 30

What can be found in the white pulp?

Answer 30

B cells - germinal centres and T cells (PALS)

Question 31

Where is there no lymph drainage?

Answer 31

No lymph drainage from skin, cartilage, bone or central nervous system, or from the majority of the spleen and liver.