lymphatic system

Question 1

what is lymph

Answer 1

a thin fluid that resembles plasma and has lower amounts of protein.

Question 2

what is chyle

Answer 2

a special type of lymph that arises from the GI tract and is white and cloudy because it contains fats and lipids

Question 3

name the lymphatic vessels

Answer 3

lymphatic capillaries, lymphatic ducts, lymphatic trunks and lymphatic veins.

Question 4

where are lymphatic vessels found

Answer 4

they lie adjacent to cardiovascular vessels and are arranged superficially and deeply. they pass through muscles where contractions aids the flow. ducts and trunks may contains smooth muscle to aid flow swell because these are the larger vessels

Question 5

where does the lymph flow from and to

Answer 5

enters the lymphatic system from the tissue fluid into the capillary then goes to vessel node trunk and duct and then rejoins back to the vein

Question 6

lymphatic vessels vs veins

Answer 6

both have low pressure, valves present and a small amount of smooth muscle. lymph system has lymphangion which is compression by local arteries and veins to propel lymph

Question 7

where do ducts and trunks drain into

Answer 7

upper right quadrant drains into right subclavian vein, rest of body drains into left subclavian vein

Question 8

examples of lymph nodes

Answer 8

neck, groin and armpit

Question 9

what are lymph nodes

Answer 9

shaped like kidneys they filter the lymph. enters through efferent vessel and a efferent vessel that leaves via concave hilum. also has feeding artery and draining vein that also leave via hilum. contains multiple follicles with immune cells (dendritic cells). main tissue is reticulin

Question 10

what are dendritic cells

Answer 10

antigen antibody complexes adhere to them and they then cause proliferation of B cells. B and T cells work together to produce an inflammatory response

Question 11

difference between T and B lymphocytes in the lymphatic system

Answer 11

B (attack outside cells) recognise antigen whereas T (attack inside cells) need to have them presented to them. Lymphocytes mostly enter the lymphatic system vie artery

Question 12

why do you get enlarged lymph nodes

Answer 12

as lymph nodes fight infection the germinal centres fill with lymphocytes causing the lymph nodes to swell causing pain. cancer and lymphoma can also cause lymph nodes to swell

Question 13

list the lymphatic organs

Answer 13

thymus, spleen, tonsils, appendix and payers patches

Question 14

the thymus structure and function

Answer 14

similar to lymph node structurally and its function is mature bone marrow stem cells into T cells

Question 15

spleen structure and function

Answer 15

similar structure to lymph node but operated into white and red pulp. it filters blood, has an immune function with B and T cells and APC and it removes old/damaged erythrocytes ad removes the iron from them. erythrocytes are also stored here

Question 16

spleen surgery for ruptured spleen

Answer 16

splenectomy will remove the spleen and the bone marrow takes over the removal and destruction of old red blood cells. However it also increases the risk of infection

Question 17

what is a splenomegaly

Answer 17

an enlargement of the spleen in response to infection. Can grow to 10 times the size

Question 18

the tonsils structure and function

Answer 18

prevent pathogen ingress through oral and nasa routes and the nodules reside in crypts which increase the surface area

Question 19

what causes swollen tonsils

Answer 19

the surface of the epithelia have microfilm cells which present antigens to immune cells and they will swell when B and T cells begin to profliliate

Question 20

structure and function of the appendix

Answer 20

nodules reside in crypts to increase surface area and they have many microfold cells. They prevent pathogen ingress through GI routes and from ileum

Question 21

payers patches structure and function

Answer 21

nodules reside in surface domes and have many microfold cells. They are found on the side of the ileum and prevent pathogen ingress through digestion

Question 22

functions of the lymphatic system

Answer 22

fluid balance(interstitial fluid excess)
transport of fats and soluble vitamins from digestive system into circulation 
defence against invading pathogens 
storage and destruction of old erythrocytes

Question 23

sentinel lymph nodes in cancer detection

Answer 23

during metastatic disease cancer cells will travel by angiogenesis and if the cancer is in the breast they will travel to the axilla node and this will swell. Probe this area and if cancer cells present then mastectomy must be performed

Question 24

what is lymphodoema

Answer 24

collection of fluid in the interstitial space due to the lymph system not draining the interstitial fluid properly. This may happen after surgery when a lymph node may have accidnetally been damaged or been removed on purpose if it was metastatic for example