Lymphatics Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the structure of capillaries:

A
Thinner walls
Numerous and highly branched
Narrow diameters
Narrow lumen
Spaces between endothelium
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2
Q

What is the reason for capillaries having thin walls?

A

Decreases diffusion distance for gases

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3
Q

What is the reason for capillaries being numerous and highly branched?

A

Large surface area for exchange of gases

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4
Q

What is the reason for capillaries having spaces between endothelium?

A

So white blood cells can pass through

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5
Q

What is the reason for capillaries having a narrow lumen?

A

So red blood cells are squashed against the side of the capillary, decreasing the diffusion distance for gases

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6
Q

How much interstitial fluid is generated daily from capillary filtration?

A

3 litres

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7
Q

What are the constituent parts of the lymphatic system?

A

Conducting system

Lymphoid tissue

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8
Q

What is the role of lymphatic capillaries?

A

To collect interstitial fluid created from capillary flitration

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9
Q

What is the structure of a lymphatic capillary?

A

Blind-ended, bulbous tubes lined with endothelial cells

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10
Q

What is the function of uni-directional valves in the lymph conducting systems?

A

They prevent the backflow of lymph

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11
Q

What causes lymph to move through the conducting system?

A

Contraction of smooth muscle

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12
Q

What happens to lymph at the lymph nodes?

A

Bacteria and foreign material is removed by phagocytosis

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13
Q

What do lymph capillaries merge into?

A

Collecting lymph tubes

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14
Q

Describe the structure of lymph collecting tubes:

A

Smooth muscle and Uni-directional valves

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15
Q

Where is lymph collected from and by what is it collected?

A

Collected by lymph capillaries from the interstitial space

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16
Q

Describe the passage of lymph through the lymphatic system:

A
Collected in lymphatic capillary
Merge into collecting vessel
Afferent lymphatics take to lymph node
Through thoracic duct
Into subclavian vein
17
Q

What is meant by the term afferent lymphatic?

A

Uni-directional

18
Q

Where does lymph re-enter the circulatory system?

A

Subclavian vein

19
Q

What is the role of the lymphatic conducting system?

A

Carries lymph to the nodes and back into the bloodstream

20
Q

Lymph nodes are considered as what type of lymphoid tissue?

21
Q

The thymus and bone marrow are considered as what type of lymphoid tissue?

22
Q

What is oedema?

A

Swelling in the tissues due to excess fluid in the interstitial space

23
Q

What is kwashiorkor?

A

A malnourished person does not receive enough protein, therefore, osmotic potential is decreased and less water is pulled into blood capillary. This excess tissue fluid causes a ‘puffed’ belly effect

24
Q

What can cause oedema?

A

When the rate of capillary filtration is greater than the rate of lymphatic drainage

(Therefore, very fast filtration or dysfunctional drainage)

25
What are secondary lymphoid organs of the body?
Lymph nodes, Payers patches, Tonsils and Adenoids, maintain mature naïve lymphocytes and initiate acquired immune response, sites of lymphatic activation
26
Why might capillary filtration be increased?
An osmotic pressure difference and the capillary hydrostatic pressure
27
What is elephantiasis?
Where nematode worms are present in the lymphatic vessels causing lymph to build up
28
What are primary lymphoid organs of the body?
Thymus and Bone marrow, involved in production and early selection of lymphocytes, generate lymphocytes from immature cells