lymphatic system Flashcards
what are the roles of lymphatic system
- absorb dietary fats and lipid soluble vitamins
- produce lymphocytes
- remove overflow of extracellular fluid
- immune filter for lymph
explain the lymphatic system
- lymph transported in lymph vessels (all over body)
- filtered through lymph nodes
- spleen contributes to immune system
- thymus diffuse lymphoid tissue and bone marrow
what are the 2 primary lymphoid tissues
bone marrow and thymus
how is lymph formed
- from excess interstitial fluid originating in capillaryes
- water solutes and small hydrophilic molecules forced out of capillaries via hydrostatic pressure in capillary bed at arteriole end
what are things you can find in interstitial fluid
- water
- proteins
- lipids
- immune cells
- maybe cells and bacteria
how many of litres of lymphs is drained daily
3-4
what is the swelling of the inferior portion of the thoracic duct known as
cisterna chyli (drain everything from below diaphragm)
what are the 6 lymph nodes
- right and left subclavian vein
- right lymphatic duct
- thoracic duct
- superior vena cave
- cisterna chyli
why are lymph vessels able to drain fluid
as they are more permeable than veins
what must happen before fluid from lymph vessels reenter venous system
- filtered by immune system by passing through multiple sets of lymph nodes that contain lymphocytes
- ## lymphocytes detect microorganisms and remove them so they cant infect body
lymph vessels are also transport system for immune cells
what area do the right and left subclavian vein drain
right = right upper quadrant
left = left upper and both lower
how are fats absorbed by lymphatic system and what is done with them
- gut epithelial cells absorb and package fats int chylomicrons
- blind-ending vessels/ lacteals in the intestinal villi take up chylomicrons
- filter them through lymph nodes
- into thoracic Duct
- then into venous system so fat can be transported in safe packages to the body
lymph nodes have multiple AFFERENT (out) vessels but only 1 EFFERENT (in) vessel
what landmark can the spleen be found
9th - 11th rib in mid axillary line left
what does the spleen do
forces RBC to squeeze through tight spaces to make sure cells are healthy
- if cant be squeezed they’re broken down and iron is recycled
- phagocytosis of RBC
what are some other functions of spleen
- stores 350 ml of blood approx
- mount an immune response to blood-born pathogens
- in fetus, works with liver to make new RBC
DEFINE LYMPHANGITIS
inflammation of lymph vessel (red on skin surface)
define lymphadentis
infection of lymph node (swollen)
define lymphadenopathy
enlargement/disease of lymph node (tumour like growths)
define lymphoedema
swelling in tissues with interrupted lymph drainage (swelling body parts)
what is a sentinel node
a lymph node that a lymph travels to first in particular
how have sentinel nodes improved breast cancer dealing
- before all lymph nodes would be removed to prevent metasstasis in breast cancer causing lymphedema due to no lymphatic drainage
- now we now sentinel nodes exist so we can remove those first depending on what lymph area is it
how is a sentinel node biopsy carried out
- radioactive tracer, coloured dye or both are injected into breast tissue surrounding tumor
- injected material migrates to nearby draining lymph node
- sentinel lymph nodes are identified by radioactive tracer, coloured dye or both and examined for evidence of cancer
