Lymphatic System Flashcards
What are the functions of lymphatic system
• return excess fluid/plasma proteins to blood
• remove foreign material from lymph
• immune cells monitor blood/lymph
• carry fat from intestines to blood
What is lymph made up of
• water, dissolved solutes, protein
• sometimes cell debris, pathogens, or cancer cells
What does the right lymphatic duct drain
• right side of head and right arm
What area does the thoracic duct drain
• rest of the body
T-cells
• manage immune response
• cell to cell attack
B-cells
• plasma cells
- produce antibodies
NK cells
• body patrol cells
Macrophages and dendritic cells
• phagocytes
• activate T-cells
Reticular cells
• produce stroma
Reticular tissue
• house lymph cells
Lymphoid follicles
• dense
• germinal centers
- rapid production of plasma cells
Primary lymph organs
• bone marrow
• thymus
Secondary lymph organs
• lymph nodes
• spleen
• mucosa-associated lymph tissue
What do lymph nodes do
• cleanse lymph
What are the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues
• MALT
• tonsils
• Peyers patches
Where is the thymus located?
Lower neck, upper thorax, overlaps some of heart
When is the thymus most active?
From birth until puberty
What happens to the thymus after puberty?
Replaced with fibrous and fatty tissue
What is the primary function of the thymus?
Maturation of T cells
Does the thymus fight pathogens directly?
No, unlike other lymphatic organs
Where are lymph nodes located?
All along lymph vessels
What are the three main concentrations of lymph nodes?
- Axillary
- Cervical
- Inguinal
What vein does the right lymphatic duct enter?
Internal jugular vein
Which duct enters the vein at the thorax?
Thoracic duct
What is the name of the structure that collects lymphatic fluid?
Cisterna chyli
What type of vessels collect lymphatic fluid?
Collecting lymphatic vessels
What major artery is associated with lymphatic drainage?
Aorta
Fill in the blank: Regional lymph nodes include cervical nodes, axillary nodes, and _______.
Inguinal nodes
What is the primary function of lymph nodes?
Filter lymph and support immune responses
Lymph nodes are crucial for the immune system, helping to trap pathogens and facilitate the activation of immune cells.
What are the main structural components of lymph nodes?
Cortex, Medulla, Subcapsular sinus, Hilum
These structures play vital roles in the organization and function of lymph nodes.
What type of cells are primarily found in the cortex of lymph nodes?
B cells and T cells
The cortex contains lymphoid follicles with germinal centers where B cells proliferate.
What is the significance of germinal centers in lymph nodes?
Sites for B cell proliferation and differentiation
Germinal centers are crucial for the adaptive immune response.
What type of cells are dendritic cells?
Antigen-presenting cells
Dendritic cells play a key role in capturing and presenting antigens to T cells.
What is the role of medullary sinuses in lymph nodes?
Drain lymph and facilitate immune cell interaction
Medullary sinuses allow for the movement of lymph and cells through the lymph node.
Fill in the blank: The _______ contains the hilum of the lymph node.
Medulla
What do afferent lymphatic vessels do?
Bring lymph into the lymph node
Afferent vessels are critical for delivering lymph that contains pathogens and immune cells.
What is the function of efferent lymphatic vessels?
Carry filtered lymph away from the lymph node
Efferent vessels transport lymph back into circulation after it has been filtered.
What is the role of trabeculae in lymph nodes?
Support the structure of lymph nodes
Trabeculae are connective tissue strands that help maintain the shape of lymph nodes.
True or False: The medullary cord contains B cells.
False
The medullary cord primarily contains T cells and macrophages.
What are the vessels that carry lymph into lymph nodes?
Afferent lymphatic vessels
What is the primary function of efferent lymphatic vessels?
Lymph exits lymph nodes
What is the term for the outer protective layer of lymph nodes?
Capsule
What part of the lymph node contains lymphoid follicles?
Cortex
What is located within the lymphoid follicle of a lymph node?
Germinal center
What is the area called that collects lymph before it exits the lymph node?
Medullary sinuses
What are the structural components that support the lymph node?
Trabeculae
What term describes swollen, infected lymph nodes?
Buboes
What condition is often associated with buboes?
Bubonic plague
What do inflamed lymph nodes allow for in terms of white blood cells?
Gives WBCs time to cleanse lymph
What is the hilum in the context of lymph nodes?
The exit point for efferent lymphatic vessels
How do the number of afferent lymphatic vessels compare to efferent lymphatic vessels?
Many afferent, fewer efferent
What are the collecting areas within lymph nodes called?
Medullary sinuses
Fill in the blank: Lymph enters lymph nodes through _______.
Afferent lymphatic vessels
True or False: Efferent lymphatic vessels allow for fluid to back up.
False
What can lymph nodes often represent in relation to cancer?
Secondary cancer sites
What is lymphoma?
Malignant neoplasm from lymphoid structures
Lymphoma is characterized by the abnormal growth of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.
What are common symptoms of lymphoma?
Nontender, enlarged lymph node, possible night sweats, fever, and weight loss
These symptoms may vary among individuals and types of lymphoma.
What age groups are primarily affected by Hodgkin lymphoma?
Young adults and people over 60
Hodgkin lymphoma has a bimodal age distribution.
What treatments are effective if Hodgkin lymphoma is caught early?
Excision, radiation, and chemotherapy
Early detection significantly increases the chances of successful treatment.
Which type of lymphoma is more common?
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma encompasses a diverse group of blood cancers.
How do some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma differ in growth rate?
Some kinds are aggressive, others slow growing
This variability affects treatment approaches and prognosis.
Fill in the blank: Hodgkin lymphoma typically spreads in a ______ manner.
contiguous
This means it usually spreads to nearby lymph nodes.
True or False: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma rarely spreads to other organs.
False
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can spread to other organs, including the gastrointestinal tract.
What is the primary function of the spleen?
Cleanses blood
What does the spleen remove from the blood?
Old RBCs, debris, foreign matter
What products does the spleen recycle from broken down RBCs?
Products from broken down RBCs
What does the spleen store?
Platelets and monocytes
What is the site of RBC production in the fetus?
Spleen
What are the main components of the red pulp in the spleen?
Splenic arteries, terminal capillaries, splenic sinusoids
What happens to blood cells in the red pulp?
Blood cells are forced out and old, defective ones are destroyed by macrophages
What is the role of macrophages in the spleen?
Destroy old, defective blood cells
What type of cells are found in the white pulp of the spleen?
WBCs
Fill in the blank: The spleen collects healthy blood cells and destroys _______.
Old, defective ones
True or False: The spleen is involved in the production of RBCs in adults.
False
What is the structure that surrounds the spleen?
Capsule
What are the two main types of pulp in the spleen?
Red pulp and white pulp
What is the function of splenic sinusoids?
Allow blood cells to be filtered and collected
What is a trabecula in the context of the spleen?
Structural support within the spleen
What is the relationship between red pulp and white pulp in the spleen?
Red pulp cleanses blood while white pulp contains WBCs
