Lymphatic System

Question 1

Lymph node location (3)

Answer 1

• distributed all around body, cannot specify single location
• found in chains
• follow the pathway of blood vessels

Question 2

Lymph node shape, size and appearance (6)

Answer 2

• approx. 600 individual nodes in body
• kidney beam shape
• vary in size (1-25mm)
• smooth external surface
• convex surface (afferent vessels) = bring lymph to node
• concave surface (efferent vessels) = take lymph away from node

Question 3

Lymph node relations (1)

Answer 3

• cannot be described, spread throughout body

Question 4

Lymph node blood supply and drainage (2)

Answer 4

• very small, don’t have to consider individual vessels
• each has own supply and drainage

Question 5

Lymph node lymphatics (2)

Answer 5

• they are lymphatics
• next node in chain drains that node

Question 6

Lymph node construction (2)

Answer 6

• stroma = outer layer and internal support structure
• parenchyma = internal functional part of node

Question 7

Lymph node stroma construction (2)

Answer 7

• dense connective tissue capsule containing reticular fibers
• population of fibroblasts to produce fibres

Question 8

Lymph node parenchyma construction (2)

Answer 8

• reticuloendothelial tissue
• contains population of lymphocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells for immune response

Question 9

Lymph node trabeculae (2)

Answer 9

• part of stroma which compartmentalizes node into sinuses
• sinuses = spaces between trabeculae and tissue which create a lymph route