Lymphatic System Flashcards
How many litres of lymph is collected every day?
3L. 20 litres leaves at the arteriole end and 17L returns at to the venous end.
What are the key components of the lymphatic system?
Lymph vessels Lymph fluid Tissues Organs Cells - lymphocytes (B + T cells, NK cells)
Where do lymph vessels tend to lie?
Adjacent to arteries and veins
In the limbs, deep lymphatics passes through muscles. What is the significance of this?
Skeletal muscle contraction aids lymph flow
What do larger lymphatics content in their vessel walls?
Smooth muscle, contraction of this is important to lymph flow
Where is there no lymphatics?
CNS
What 3 key things aid the flow of lymph?
- Pressure changes in the thorax
- Skeletal muscle contraction
- Pulsation of adjacent arteries
What could be the possible causes of lympoedema?
Patient may be born without enough lymphatics, or lymphatics not functioning properly.
Name examples of diffuse lymphatic tissues.
GALT - gastric associated
BALT - bronchus associated
MALT - mucosal associated
Name 3 lymph organs.
Thymus
Spleen
Lymph nodes
What is the function of lymph nodes?
Serves as a filter as lymph makes its way towards the vascular system.
Outline the structure of a lymph node?
Outer capsule
Afferent vessels entering the cortex and efferent vessels leaving at the hilum.
The cortex contains germinal centres.
What type of cell is abundant in germinal centres?
Follicular dendritic cells - present antigens to activate B cells
Professional APC’s - macrophages, B cells
What is the different between an inflammatory response and an immune response?
Inflammatory response occurs first - neutrophils and macrophages.
Immune response may then be stimulated by antigen presentation.
Through which vessel do lymphocytes enter the lymph nodes?
The feeding artery