Lymphatic Anatomy (complete) Flashcards
What is the difference between plasma, interstitial fluid, and lymph
the location in which you find it
plasma is in the cardiovascular system
interstitial fluid is outside of vessels in the interstitial space
lymph is inside the lymphatic system
What are the components of the lymphatic system
lymphatic vessels
lymphatic organs
lymphatic cells
what are the functions of the lymphatic system
- Return leaked plasma to the blood stream
- Screen lymph for foreign substances
- House lymphocytes
- transport dietary lipids
What is the order of flow of lymph from the interstitial space to its return into the bloodstream
- Lymph capillaries
- Lymph vessels
- Lymph nodes
- Lymphatic trunks
- Lymphatic ducts
- return to veins
Which do lymph vessels more closely resemble? arteries or veins
veins
how do lymphatic capillaries differ from blood capillaries
- they begin out of nowhere (blood capillaries come from arteries and then go to being veins)
- they have overlapping endothelial cells that form one way flaps
What is the main function of lymph capillaries
to pick up interstitial fluid
What are the special lymphatic capillaries in the small intestine called
lacteals
what is the special function of lacteals
they pick up interstitial fluid as well as dietary lipids and lipid soluble vitamins
What do you call the lymph that is in lacteals
chyle
from where to lymph vessels get their lymph
from lymph capillaries
what do lymph vessels have that prevent backflow of lymph
valves
how do lymph vessels resemble veins
- they have valves preventing backflow
- they have low pressure
- they move lymph by muscle contraction
- they have three tunics
What are the three tunics of lymph vessels
- tunica intima
- tunica media
- tunica externa
how do the tunics of the lymph vessels differ from those in veins
they are thinner and don’t have distinct borders
What are the two different types of lymph vessels
afferent
efferent
what is an afferent lymph vessel
a lymph vessel that delivers lymph to the lymph nodes
what is an efferent lymph vessel
a lymph vessel that takes lymph away from the lymph nodes
which should have cleaner lymph, afferent or efferent lymph vessels
efferent (because the lymph gets filtered in the lymph nodes)
lymph capillaries are found almost everywhere that you can find blood capillaries. what are the three locations where you don’t find capillaries.
Red bone marrow
CNS
avascular tissues
How many afferent vessels does a lymph node usually have leading up to it
many
how many efferent vessels does a lymph node have leaving it
one
What are the two main parts of a lymph node
the cortex and the medulla
what type of cells do you usually find in lymph nodes
macrophages
dendritic cells
lymphocytes
what are the functions of the lymph nodes
screen lymph for foreign antigens
initiate an immune response
Where are the greatest clusters of lymph nodes found
axillary (armpit)
cervical (neck)
inguinal (groin)
(where extremities attach to the truck)
although the largest clusters of lymph nodes are found in the armpits, neck, and groin. where else can you find lymph nodes
they are scattered all throughout the body
What is the largest lymph node in the body
the cisterna chyli
The lymph from which part of the body will flow through the cisterna chyli
all of the lymph from the lower part of the body will
What are the two lymphatic ducts
Thoracic duct
right lymphatic duct
what part of the body does the right lymphatic duct drain
the upper right quadrant of the body
what part of the body does the thoracic duct drain
the lower half of the body, and the upper left quadrant of the body
Where does the right lymphatic duct empty into
the right subclavian vein and the right internal jugular vein
where does the thoracic duct empty into
the left subclavian vein and the left internal jugular vein
What is lymphedema
edema (swelling due to fluid) caused by lymph node obstruction
What are the three ways the you can obstruct your lymph nodes and get lymphedema
- lymphatic filaiasis (worms in the lymph nodes)
- removal of nodes/scar tissue
- malignant tumors of the nodes
What is elephantitis
extreme and severe cases of lymphedema
in what parts of the world is lymphedema most common
southeast asia and africa
What can you do to cure lymphedema
it is not operable or curable
What are lymph nodules
oval clusters of lymphatic tissue NOT surrounded by a connective tissue capsule
What kind of cells do lymph nodules contain
macrophages
dendritic cells
lymphocytes
what is the function of lymph nodules
screen for, and attack foreign antigens
What are the two most prevalent types of lymph nodules
Tonsils
MALT
What are tonsils
clusters of lymphatic nodules found in the oral cavity
what is MALT
mucosa associated lymphatic tissue
lymphatic nodules found in the GI tract, respiratory tract, and genital and urinary tracts
What are the organs of the lymphatic system
lymph nodes
thymus
spleen
What is the structure of the lymphatic system organs
they are lymphatic tissue that is covered by a connective tissue capsule.
they have macrophages, dendritic cells, and lymphocytes
What is the function of the thymus
site for the maturation of T-lymphocyte maturation
What happens to the size of the thymus as you increase in age
it starts out really large in infants and young children and after puberty it shrinks
how many lobes does the thymus have
2
what are the parts of each lobe of the thymus
cortex and medulla
what will you find in the cortex of the thymus
immature T-cells
what will you find in the medulla of the thymus
mature T-cells
What is the largest lymphatic organ
the spleen
where in your body do you find your spleen
in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen
What are the two kinds of tissue in the spleen
red pulp and white pulp
what will you find in the white pulp of the spleen
lymphocytes and macrophages
what is the function of the white pulp of the spleen
monitors blood for foreign antigens
initiates an immune response
what is the function of the red pulp of the spleen
it is a blood reservoir
Hemolysis (phagocytosis of RBCs and platelets)
remove debris from blood
