Lymphatic - Functions And Characteristics

Question 1

Functions of lymphatic system?

Answer 1

• Transports escaped fluids from capillary’s back to blood
• essential role is body defence and resistance to disease
• Absorption of fat and fat soluble substances during digestive process

Question 2

What causes fluid to move out of capillaries?

Answer 2

Blood pressure forces fluid and solutes out of capillaries

Question 3

What causes fluid to move back into capillaries?

Answer 3

Osmotic pressure draws fluid into capillaries (mostly by albumin)

Question 4

How much fluid goes out of capillaries and is reabsorbed per day?

Answer 4

20 L moves out and 17 L moves back in

Question 5

How much fluid left behind?

Answer 5

3 L per day

Question 6

What does the fluid that is left behind called?

Answer 6

Interstitial fluid (fluid between cells)

Question 7

Where is the 3 L returned?

Answer 7

Returns to plasma to maintain blood volume

Question 8

What happens if that 3 L a day is not returned?

Answer 8

Development of Edema

Question 9

What does lymph mean?

Answer 9

Excess clear fluid (interstitial fluid that has entered the lymphatic system so now called lymph)

Question 10

What do lymphatic vessels do?

Answer 10

Carry lymph from peripheral tissue to venous system

Question 11

What is the smallest lymphatic vessels?

Answer 11

Lymphatic capillaries

Question 12

Where are lymphatic capillaries found?

Answer 12

In the interstitial space

Question 13

What’s the problem with lymphatic capillaries being very permeable?

Answer 13

Particles like cell debris, bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells can enter the lymph fluid easily

Question 14

What type of valves do the capillaries have?

Answer 14

One way mini valves

Question 15

How do the valves work?

Answer 15

When pressure in interstitial space is greater than inside the lymphatic capillary, the valves will open to allow fluid in and close once the pressure is higher in the capillary

Question 16

Where does lymph travel from (capillary to what)?

Answer 16

Capillary -> vessel -> trunk -> ducts

Question 17

How do lymph moves towards heart without a pump?

Answer 17

Smooth muscle in lymph vessels react to pulse in arteries and pushes the fluid

Squeezing of skeletal muscles which contracts throughout the day also pushes the fluid up

Question 18

How do the vessels keep the lymph from sliding backwards?

Answer 18

Have valves inside

Question 19

Where can we find lymph nodes?

Answer 19

Along the vessels

Question 20

What do lymph nodes do?

Answer 20

Filter lymph before returning it back to blood

Question 21

What are the defence cells in lymph nodes?

Answer 21

Macrophages and lymphocytes

Question 22

Where are the large clusters of lymphatic nodes found in the body? (Three main areas)

Answer 22

1. Cervical (head and neck)
2. Axillary (under arm)
3. Inguinal - located in groin

Question 23

What is the structure of a lymph node?

Answer 23

Contains cortex and medulla (medulla contains the macrophages)

Question 24

What causes lymph nodes to become tender and inflamed?

Answer 24

Sometimes large amounts of bacteria or viruses become trapped in nodes (like when you’re sick)

Can also be secondary sites for cancer

Question 25

What two ducts does lymphatic drain into?

Answer 25

1. Thoracic duct
2. Right lymphatic duct

Question 26

What’s lymphedema? What does it cause?

Answer 26

Blockage of lymphatic drainage

Causes interstitial fluid to accumulate and causes swollen and distended areas

Question 27

What is lymphoid tissue?

Answer 27

Kind of the same as lymph nodes. They remove foreign material and are lookouts for immune system

Question 28

What are the four lymphoid tissue areas?

Answer 28

1. Tonsils
2. Peyer’s patch
3. Spleen
4. Thymus

Question 29

Where is peyer’s patch found?

Answer 29

In small intestine

Question 30

What does the spleen filter? What does it destroy?

Answer 30

Filters blood instead of lymph and destroys dead RBCs returning iron to blood and RBC to liver for bile

Question 31

What does the spleen store?

Answer 31

RBCs and platelets in case of a emergency

Question 32

What is the white pulp of spleen?

Answer 32

Filters blood and where antibodies r made for B cells

Question 33

What is the red pulp in spleen?

Answer 33

Destroys and recycles old RBCs

Question 34

Where is the thymus located?

Answer 34

Between lungs, above heart

Question 35

When does thymus primarily function?

Answer 35

During childhood and shrinks by puberty

Question 36

What is the thymus responsible for?

Answer 36

Production of T-cells and destroying T-cells that attack the bodies own antigens

Question 37

What is lymphophoiesis?

Answer 37

Production of lymphocytes

Question 38

Where does lymphopoiesis occur?

Answer 38

In red bone marrow