Lymphatic System Flashcards
What are the functions of the lymphatic system?
Transports excess of interstitial fluid
Serves as route by absorbed fat from intestine is transported to blood
Provides immunological defense
Returns leaked proteins to blood to help maintain osmotic balance
What is edema?
Happens if lymphatic system is blocked or removed
What is lymph fluid?
Formed as filtrate of plasma through blood capillaries, low protein concentration, flows under low pressure
What are lymph capillaries? Where are they found? Where are they absent from?
Lymph capillaries: highly permeable close-ended tubes that pick-up bacteria and viruses, proteins, electrolytes, and fluids
Near capillary beds
Absent from bone, bone marrow, and teeth
What are lacteals?
In small intestine, network of blood and lymph capillaries
Lymph nodes
bean shaped organs along lymphatic collecting vessels
have immune cells inside to respond and filter lymph fluid
Spleen
-largest lymphoid tissue
-removal of blood-borne antigens
-removal and destruction of aged/defective blood cells
-stores platelets
-synthesizes antibodies
Thymus
T-lymphocyte maturation
Tonsils
-swellings of mucosa, form a circle
-Palatine (site of tonsillitis), lingual (tongue), pharyngeal (nose)
MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue)
-Small intestine: absorption of nutrients
-Appendix
-Lymphoid nodules
What are lymphocytes and what are the types of lymphocytes?
Lymphocytes: respond to invading organisms, abnormal body cells, foreign proteins
T cells (thymus-dependent)
B cells (bone marrow-derived)
NK cells (natural killer)
Where is the lymph fluid drained to?
subclavian and internal jugular veins
