Lymphatic System

Question 1

T/F Lymphatics are especially abundant in the brain, where they function to prevent cerebral edema

Answer 1

False; there are no lymphatics in the central nervous system; excess fluid becomes part of the CSF, and is
returned to the blood with CSF in the dural sinuses

Question 2

T/F In general, it is far easier for a bacterial cell to enter a blood capillary than an initial lymphatic

Answer 2

False; backwards. The lymphatic system picks up small particles like bacteria, and examines the
resulting lymph for the presence of foreign matter like pathogens

Question 3

T/F The gaps or clefts between the endothelial cells of initial lymphatics are generally larger, and open more easily, than the corresponding pores in blood capillaries

Answer 3

True; this explains why it is easier for bacterial cells to enter initial lymphatics than blood capillaries

Question 4

T/F Like veins, lymphatic vessels contain valves to help ensure one-way flow back to the heart

Answer 4

True

Question 5

T/F Most lymph nodes have more efferent lymphatics draining the node than afferent lymphatics filling it; this facilitates the quick and easy drainage of lymph from the node

Answer 5

Backwards; there are more afferent vessels than efferent, so lymph languishes in the nodes

Question 6

T/F The spleen is loosely divided into cortical and medullary regions

Answer 6

False; no cortex and medulla in the spleen, only regions of red and white pulp

Question 7

T/F Lymph nodes enlarged by cancer tend to be firm and nontender, while those inflamed by infection tend to be quite tender/painful

Answer 7

True; which explains the “common knowledge” that a painful swollen lymph node is a good sign

Question 8

T/F The spleen is encapsulated by dense irregular connective tissue

Answer 8

True; swollen spleens (splenomegaly) can stretch this capsule and cause splenalgia

Question 9

T/F Lymph nodes monitor lymph for antigens, while the spleen monitors blood for antigens

Answer 9

True

Question 10

In the spleen, [red/ white] pulp is associated with the central artery and is involved primarily in immune activity

Answer 10

white; red pulp is red because it is heavy with RBCs—it is the area involved in the blood functions
of the spleen; white pulp is concerned mainly with the immune functions

Question 11

________________________, which begin blindly in the tissues of the capillary beds, are the smallest lymphatic vessels

Answer 11

Initial lymphatics

Question 12

________________________ is defined simply as fluid that has entered the lymphatic vessels

Answer 12

Lymph

Question 13

The ________________________ drains lymph from the right arm, right side of the head, and the right upper thorax, and returns it to the bloodstream

Answer 13

right lymphatic duct; you should be aware of the other duct as well, the thoracic duct

Question 14

The ________________________ drains lymph from the entire left side of the body as well as the right leg and lower abdomen

Answer 14

thoracic duct

Question 15

________________________ are highly specialized lymphatic capillaries present in the fingerlike villi of the intestinal mucosa; they play a role in the absorption of dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins

Answer 15

Lacteals

Question 16

A ________________________ is a painful, swollen, infected lymph node

Answer 16

bubo; note the plural is “buboes.” And yes, buboes are a prominent symptom of bubonic plague

Question 17

________________________ refers to the large number of lymphatic follicles located in the mucosa of the GI, respiratory, genital, and urinary tracts

Answer 17

MALT; there is also a similar system in the skin, known unsurprisingly as “SALT”

Question 18

________________________ refer to water insoluble molecules, and include fats, fatty acids, cholesterol, and fat-soluble vitamins

Answer 18

Lipids

Question 19

________________________ refers to swelling of body tissues due to leakage of fluid from blocked lymphatic vessels back into the interstitial spaces (back into body tissue)

Answer 19

Lymphedema

Question 20

Which ONE of the following is NOT part of the lymphatic system?
A. Liver
B. Spleen
C. Tonsils
D. Thymus
E. Peyer’s patches
F. (None. All of the above are part of the lymphatic system)

Answer 20

A. Liver

Question 21

Where does the lymphatic system return excess fluid to the cardiovascular system?
A. At the junction of the brachiocephalic and internal jugular veins
B. In the spleen
C. In the liver
D. Directly into the inferior vena cava via the azygos vein
E. Into the aorta
F. Via the coronary sinus in the right atrium

Answer 21

A; specifically, this is the location of the right lymphatic duct and the thoracic duct

Question 22

Which ONE of the following is NOT a function of the lymphatic system?
A. The lymphatic system returns excess interstitial fluid to the cardiovascular system
B. The lymphatic system provides a route for the absorption of fat soluble nutrients in the intestines
C. The lymphatic system returns cerebrospinal fluid to the venous blood
D. The lymphatic system works with the immune system to provide defense against would-be pathogens
E. (None. All of the above are functions of the lymphatic system)

Answer 22

C; not only is the brain not involved in CSF return, but the lymphatic system does not even venture
into the central nervous system!

Question 23

Where does chyle enter the bloodstream?
A. In the liver
B. In the intestinal wall 
C. In the spleen
D. In the lymph nodes 
E. In the thymus
F. (None of the above)

Answer 23

F. Chyle enters the bloodstream as the thoracic duct drains into the crotch of the left internal jugular and
subclavian veins

Question 24

Which ONE of the following is NOT TRUE regarding lymphoid follicles?
A. Lymphoid follicles are encapsulated with dense irregular connective tissue
B. During an immune response, lymphoid follicles may become “antibody factories”
C. Lymphoid follicles often have lighter-staining centers known as germinal centers
D. Lymphoid follicles are heavy with T-cells and B-cells
E. Lymphoid follicles in the intestinal mucosa are known as Peyer’s patches
F. (None. All of the above are true regarding lymphoid follicles)

Answer 24

A; the spleen and lymph nodes are encapsulated, but not lymphoid follicles; lymphoid follicles are
not organs and they do not have a capsule; rather they are found within the tissue of other organs

Question 25

Which ONE of the following best describes plasma cells? Plasma cells…
A. …are mature B cells whose main function is to release large numbers of antibodies
B. …are endothelial cells concerned with regulation of the fluid volume of the blood
C. …are the main phagocytes lining the medullary sinuses of lymph nodes
D. …are spleen cells concerned with removing old, worn-out RBCs from the circulation

Answer 25

A; plasma cells are “antibody factories”

Question 26

List three principal functions of the lymphatic system

Answer 26

-The lymphatic system transports excess interstitial fluid back to the bloodstream
-The lymphatic vessels transport dietary lipids from the GI tract
-The lymphoid organs house lymphocytes
-The lymphatic system generates an immune response and increases the lymphocyte population when
necessary

Question 27

List three principal functions of the spleen

Answer 27

-Initiates an immune response when antigens are found in the blood (a white pulp function)
-Serves as a reservoir for erythrocytes & platelets (a red pulp fxn)
-Phagocytizes old, wornout RBCs & platelets (red pulp fxn)
-Stores some breakdown products for later re-use, e.g., iron, and releases others for processing by the
liver
-Phagocytizes bacteria and other foreign materials
-Spleen (and liver) is a site of early RBC production in the fetus, a capability that normally ceases after
birth