Lymphatic system

Question 1

3 functions of the lymphatic system

Answer 1

maintenance of fluid balance within the tissues
absorption and carriage of water-insoluble fats from the intestine
protection of the body through the generation of an immune response

Question 2

4 components of the lymphatic system

Answer 2

lymphatic vessels
lymph nodes
spleen
thymus

Question 3

What do superficial lymphatics follow?

Answer 3

veins

Question 4

What do deep lymphatics follow?

Answer 4

arteries

Question 5

Describe cisterna chyli

Answer 5

sac-like structure
right side of L1/2
receives lumbar and interstitial lymph trunks

Question 6

What does thoracic duct receive?

Answer 6

receives left subclavian and jugular lymphatic ducts

Question 7

Describe lymph nodes

Answer 7

compact aggregates of lymphoid and supporting connective tissues
microns to mm
distributed throughout body

Question 8

Lymph nodes function

Answer 8

allows interaction of antigen, APC and lymphoid cells in the generation of an immune response

Question 9

Where is the spleen?

Answer 9

left upper quadrant

Question 10

Spleen function

Answer 10

trapping + presenting antigens circulating in the blood
culling old red cells

Question 11

Surgical sieve approach to splenomegaly

Answer 11

infective
vascular
neoplastic
haematological
immunological
metabolic

Question 12

Splenomegaly infective causes

Answer 12

bacterial = TB, endocarditis
viral = infective mononucleosis
protozoal = malaria, leishmaniasis

Question 13

Splenomegaly haematological causes

Answer 13

haemolytic anaemias

Question 14

Splenomegaly immunological causes

Answer 14

rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis

Question 15

Splenomegaly metabolic causes

Answer 15

rare inherited enzyme deficiencies eg. Gauchers

Question 16

Splenomegaly vascular causes

Answer 16

portal hypertension (cirrhosis)

Question 17

Splenomegaly neoplastic causes

Answer 17

lymphoma, leukaemia, Myeloproliferative disorders

Question 18

Felty syndrome triad

Answer 18

Rheumatoid arthritis, splenomegaly, neutropenia

Question 19

4 causes of lymphadenopathy

Answer 19

infective
neoplastic
immunological
metabolic

Question 20

Lymphadenopathy infective causes

Answer 20

local bacterial infection
infective mononucleosis
TB
HIV

Question 21

Lymphadenopathy neoplastic causes

Answer 21

primary = lymphoma
secondary = metastatic tumours

Question 22

Lymphadenopathy immunological causes

Answer 22

sarcoidosis

Question 23

Lymphoma metabolic causes

Answer 23

thyrotoxicosis

Question 24

What is meant by immunocompetent cells?

Answer 24

distinguish between normal and altered

Question 25

Function of primary lymphoid organ

Answer 25

development and maturation of cells
eg. bone marrow

Question 26

Function of secondary lymphoid organ

Answer 26

trap cells or pathogens
eg. lymph nodes/tonsils/MALT/GALT/spleen

Question 27

What do GALT and MALT stand for?

Answer 27

gut-associated lymphoid tissue
mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue

Question 28

4 components of lymphatic/lymphoid system

Answer 28

lymphatic capillaries
lymphatic vessels
nodes
ducts

Question 29

Describe lymphatic vessels

Answer 29

paired valves (bead-like appearance)
deep and superficial vessels and nodes
lymph flow:
- skeletal muscles
- smooth muscles of large vessels
- thoracic pressure changes

Question 30

Describe lymph nodes

Answer 30

filter lymph fluid
testing + recognition centres
production/maintenance and distribution of lymphocytes
do not have detoxification function (left to liver + kidneys)

Question 31

What is Waldeyer’s ring?

Answer 31

ring of lymphatic tissue
formed of:
- 2 palatine tonsils
- pharyngeal tonsil
- lingual tonsil
- tubal tonsils
and intervening lymphoid tissue