Lymphatics

Question 1

Functions of the lymphatic system

Answer 1

Drain, Transport, Immune

Question 2

What is Interstitial fluid?

Answer 2

Interstitial fluid is the fluid that surrounds the body cells and bathes them with oxygen and nutrients

Question 3

What is the lymphatic system comprised of?

Answer 3

• Lymph
• Lymph vessels
• Lymph nodes
• Lymph organs such as the spleen and thymus
• Includes lymphoid tissue such as the tonsils
• Includes bone marrow.

Question 4

What system is the lymphatic system part of?

Answer 4

Circulatory system

Question 5

Pathway of Lymph

Answer 5

- The lymphatic vessels
eventually lead to lymphatic
ducts.
- The lymphatic ducts empty the
lymph into the subclavian
veins
- The lymph now becomes part of the plasma again

Question 6

What are some factors involved in the flow of lymph?

Answer 6

• Contraction of skeletal muscles
• Respiratory pump
• Gravity

Question 7

Most flow of lymph in the body is due to?

Answer 7

The result of contracting skeletal muscles

Question 8

Define intracellular fluid:

Answer 8

Fluid inside the cells

Question 9

Define extracellular fluid:

Answer 9

Any fluid outside the cells

Question 10

Which body compartment contains the largest proportion of total body fluid?

Answer 10

Intracellular fluid compartment

Question 11

Identify three examples of extracellular fluid.

Answer 11

• Serous fluid
• Aqueous humor
• Cerebrospinal fluid

Question 12

State four factors that can impact the flow of lymph through lymphatic vessels.

Answer 12

• Gravity
• Rate of lymph formation
• Respiratory pump helps to draw lymph upwards in side vessel
• Valves prevent backflow of lymph

Question 13

Define interstitial fluid:

Answer 13

Fluid between cells

Question 14

What causes the water from plasma to move from the arterial end of the capillary to the venous end of the capillary?

Answer 14

Hydrostatic pressure pushes water component of plasma through pores in the thin-walled capillary. Blood pressure causes fluid to move by filtration.

Question 15

What causes interstitial fluid to return to the venous end of the capillary?

Answer 15

Hypertonic solution generated in the venous end when water moved out of the arterial end. This
hypertonic solution (containing albumin and other proteins) causes water to be pulled back into
venous end.

Question 16

How does interstitial fluid become lymph?

Answer 16

Water moves from interstitial space into lymph vessels down a pressure gradient.
Overlapping cells of lymph vessels prevent fluid moving back into interstitial space.

Question 17

Define oedema:

Answer 17

The presence of abnormally large amounts of fluid in the intercellular tissue spaces of the body.

Question 18

Oedema can occur in any organ or tissue in the body, however there are areas that are more susceptible than others. Identify three locations where oedema is more likely to occur.

Answer 18

• Lungs
• Brain
• Gravity dependant areas such as limbs and lower back

Question 19

What is Albumin?

Answer 19

Albumin is a protein that helps to regulate oncotic pressure in the vascular system