Lymphatic System Flashcards
Describe the process of the lymphatic system from blood leaving the heart:
- Blood leaves the heart and travels to the tissues.
- Blood returns to heart in veins.
- Lymphatic capillaries collect excess tissue fluid that normal capillaries can’t.
- Lymph nodes filter lymph
- Lymph collects in ducts before emptying into the subclavian veins and rejoining main blood circulation.
What is the structure and function of lymph?
Structure: contains waste materials, leucocytes and lymphocytes. (but no erythrocytes)
Function: transports excess waste (that blood can’t carry) away from tissues.
What is the structure and function of lymphatic capillaries?
Structure: fine permeable tubes. single layer of endothelial cells.
Function: caryy excess tissue fluid away from tissue space
What is the structure and function of lymphatic vessels?
Structure: thin walled collapsible vessels similar to veins but carrying lymph not blood. They have three layers:
- outer layer of fibrous tissue
- middle layer of muscular and elastic tissue
- inner layer of endothelial cells
Function: collect lymph from lymphatic capillaries and then move towards the heart.
What is the structure and function (2) of lymph nodes?
Structure: made of lymphatic tissue, surrounded by wall of tough, white fibrous tissue. Vary in size.
Function:
- filter the lymph. remove and destroy harmful micro orgnanisms, tumour cells, damaged or dead tissue cells, large protein molecules and toxic substances. Prevents toxic materials from reaching the blood stream.
- produce new lymphocytes and antibodies.
Name 2 types of cells found in lymphatic tissue:
- phagocytes (destroy harmful bacteria)
- lymphocytes (produce antibodies)
What is the name of vessels that bring lymph into the nodes?
afferent
What is the name of vessels that take lymph back into the circuit from the nodes?
efferent
What are the 2 main lymphatic ducts, their location and their function?
1- Right lymphatic duct
Location: root of the neck and empties into right subclavian vein
Function: receives drained lymph from right side of head, chest, neck and right arm.
2- Thoracic duct
Location: 40cm long. Extends from L2 vertebrae to root of neck.
Function: collects and drains lymph from left side of head, neck, both lower limbs, left side of the trunk and left arm.
Name the 5 special areas containing lymphatic tissue from top to bottom:
1- tonsils
2- thymus gland (behind sternum)
3- Peyer’s patches (wall of small intestine)
4- appendix
5- spleen
Name the 8 nodes from top to bottom:
1- auricular nodes|anterior & posterior (level of ear)
2- submandibular nodes | left & right (sides of jaw)
3- occipital nodes (back of head)
4- deep & superficial cervical nodes (neck)
5- axillary nodes (armpits)
6- supratrochlear nodes (elbow crease)
7- inginual nodes (groin)
8- popliteal nodes (knees)
What is the structure and function (5 points) of the spleen?
Structure: outer capsule of fibrous tissue. they extend to network of fibrous strands called trabeculae.
Function:
1- forms new lymphocytes
2- destroys thrombocyes and erythrocytes
3- removes foreign particles from circulation
4- help fight infection
5- acts as blood reservoir. can help to maintain pressure in circulation
What is oedema?
swelling due to excess fluid in tissue spaces / serous cavities.
What is lymphoedema?
oedema associated with obstruction of lymphatic vessels.
What os Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Cancer of lymphatic tissue
What is cellulite?
lumpy deposits of body fat
What is glandular fever?
Infectious Mononucleosis:
fever and swollen lymph nodes
What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis)?
Autoimmune diease where the body’s own T-cells attack the cells of the thyroid
What is Lymphoma?
type of cancer that originates in lymphocytes of the immune system.
