Lymphatic System

Question 1

what are the 3 functions of the Lymphatic System?

Answer 1

1. Maintenance of Fluid balance in the tissue
   - A portion of the fluid that passes from the capillaries into the tissues travels back through lymphatic vessels
2. Fat Absorption
   - Helps absorb lipids from small intestines
3. Defense
   -Filters blood plasma to identify and remove pathogens, lymph organs contain lymphocytes

Question 2

what are the components of the lymph system

Answer 2

-lymph
-lymphocytes
-lymph nodes
-tonsils
-spleen
-thymus gland

Question 3

Lymph

Answer 3

fluid that enters lymphatic capillaries composed of water and some solutes

Question 4

what do lymph vessels do?

Answer 4

they carry fluid from the tissues back to the circulatory system; eventually they drain into the venous system around the internal jugular vine

Question 5

Lymphatic capillaries

Answer 5

tiny, closed-ended vessels that fluid moves easily into capillaries and in most tissues to join to form lymphatic vessels

Question 6

Lymphatic vessels

Answer 6

• where lymphatic capillaries join
• resemble small veins
• One-way valves

Question 7

Right lymphatic duct

Answer 7

• where lymphatic vessels from right
  upper limb and right head, neck, chest
  empty
• empties into right subclavian vein

Question 8

Thoracic duct

Answer 8

• collects lymph from the from remaining lymphatic vessels which do not enter the right lymphatic duct.
• empties into left subclavian vein

Question 9

what is the purpose of the tonsils?

Answer 9

form a protective ring of lymphatic tissue around nasal and oral cavities

Question 10

where are the palatine tonsils?

Answer 10

on each side of oral cavity

Question 11

Where are the pharyngeal tonsils located?

Answer 11

near internal opening of nasal cavity (adenoid)

Question 12

where are the lingual tonsils?

Answer 12

posterior surface of tongue

Question 13

what are lymph nodes?

Answer 13

Rounded orgnas, vary in size; located near lymphatic vessels; are found on the groin, armpit, neck, thorax, abdomen

Question 14

does lymph have to pass through a lymph node?

Answer 14

Yes (all lymph passes through at least 1
lymph nodes before entering blood)

Question 15

what does lymph nodes do?

Answer 15

-Activated (lymphocytes produced) if
foreign substances are detected to remove microbes by macrophages
-Lymph percolates through lymph nodes as it travels through lymph vessels
- Lymphocytes monitor fluid for pathogens
- If detected, lymphocytes will proliferate and lymph node will swell

Question 16

what is your spleen?

Answer 16

-size of clenched fist and located in upper left abdomen it filters out old red blood cells and detects and responds to foreign substances it serves as a blood reservoir – hematopoesis

Question 17

white and red pulp are what?

Answer 17

white- lymphatic tissue surrounding arteries
red-contains macrophages and red blood cells that connect to veins

Question 18

what is a thymus gland?

Answer 18

located in mediastinum behind
the sternum and produces and matures
lymphocytes; stops growing at age 1
and decreases in size as we age

Question 19

Cancer and Lymph Nodes

Answer 19

-Cancerous cells also travel in lymph
- They can enter a lymph node and metastasize (grow)
- Specific regions of the body drain to specific lymph nodes
- Cancer in a certain organ will spread to certain lymph nodes

Question 20

what nodes need to be checked if cancer is detected?

Answer 20

Breast cancer > axillary nodes
* Lung cancer > thoracic nodes
* Oral/Throat cancer > cervical nodes
* Skin cancer > nearest lymph nodes