Structure/Function of Lymph

Question 1

What are the components of the lymphatic system?

Answer 1

• Lymph
• Lymphatic vessels
• Structures/organs containing lymphatic tissue
• Red Bone Marrow

Question 2

What is lymphatic tissue?

Answer 2

Specialized form of reticular connective tissue that contains large numbers of lymphocytes

Question 3

What is interstitial fluid?

Answer 3

Fluid surrounding the cells of body tissues

Question 4

What is Lymph fluid?

Answer 4

Interstitial fluid that passes into lymphatic vessels

Question 5

What are the differences between interstitial fluid and lymph?

Answer 5

• Lymph contains less protein (protein molecules are too large to filter through capillary wall)
• Both fluids are similar to blood plasma

Question 6

How many liters of fluid filter from blood into tissue spaces?

Answer 6

About 20 liters

Question 7

How many liters of fluid from arterial vessels filter directly to venous system through reabsorption?

Answer 7

About 17 liters

Question 8

How many liters of fluid pass into lymphatic vessels prior to returning to cardiovascular system?

Answer 8

About 3 liters

Question 9

What are the 3 primary functions of the lymphatic system?

Answer 9

• Drain excess interstitial fluid
• Transports dietary lipids
• Carries out immune responses

Question 10

How does draining excess interstitial fluid help the body?

Answer 10

Helps maintain fluid balance in the body and depletion of vital plasma proteins

Question 11

What dietary lipids are transported by the lymphatic system?

Answer 11

ADEK

- Vitamins A, D, E, and K

Question 12

What do lymphatic vessels begin as?

Answer 12

Lymphatic capillaries

Question 13

Characteristics of lymphatic capillaries?

Answer 13

• Slightly larger than blood capillaries

- Have one way valves to prevent backflow of interstitial fluid

Question 14

What cells make up the wall of a lymphatic capillary?

Answer 14

Endothelial cells

- Ends overlap rather than attach end to end

Question 15

How does access from interstitial space work?

Answer 15

• When there is higher pressure within interstitial fluid, valves open allowing fluid into lymph.
• When there is lower pressure within interstitial fluid,, valves close not allowing lymphatic fluid into interstitial spaces

Question 16

How do lymphatic capillaries unite?

Answer 16

They come together in order to form larger and larger lymphatic vessels

Question 17

Characteristics of lymphatic vessels?

Answer 17

Resemble veins but have thinner walls and more valves

Question 18

What are located in intervals along lymphatic vessels?

Answer 18

Lymph nodes

Question 19

What are lymph nodes made of? What flows though them?

Answer 19

• Masses of B and T cells that are surrounded by a capsule

- Lymph flows through nodes

Question 20

What are two main channels that lymph flows into?

Answer 20

• Thoracic duct

- Right sided lymphatic duct

Question 21

Where does thoracic duct receive lymph from?

Answer 21

Main lymph collecting duct

• Left side of head
• Neck
• Chest
• Left upper limb
• Entire body below the ribs

Question 22

Where does right sided lymphatic duct receive lymph from?

Answer 22

Upper right side of the body

Question 23

Where does thoracic duct empty lymph into?

Answer 23

Junction of left internal jugular and left subclavian veins

Question 24

Where does right sided lymphatic duct empty lymph into?

Answer 24

Junction of right internal jugular and right subclavian veins

Question 25

What are the two pumps that maintain the flow of lymph?

Answer 25

• Skeletal muscle pump

- Respiratory pump

Question 26

How does the skeletal muscle pump maintain the flow of lymph?

Answer 26

“Milking action” compresses lymphatic vessels (and veins) and forces lymph toward subclavian veins

Question 27

How does the respiratory pump maintain the flow of lymph?

Answer 27

• Maintained by pressure changes with inhalation
• Lymph flows from abdominal region (higher pressure_ to thoracic region (lower pressure)
• When pressure reverses due to exhalation, valves prevent backflow