The Lymphatic System

Question 1

What are the functions of the lymphatic system?

Answer 1

Tissue drainage
Return of plasma/ plasma proteins
Fat transport from guy
Immunity

Question 2

Tissue drainage

Answer 2

Tissue fluid from venous system to extra cellular spaces.
Lymph flows due to contraction of skeletal muscles- changes pressure on capillaries.
Failure of drainage = inflammation

Question 3

What is lymph?

Answer 3

Fluid and plasma proteins (small ones through ‘flaps’ in wall)
White cells enter lymph vessels.
Shed cancer cell scan enter lymph vessels.

Question 4

Where do you look for first signs of metastasis?

Answer 4

Lymphatic capillaries - spread of tumour can be seen (shed cancer cells)

Question 5

What increases during infection regarding fluid flow?

Answer 5

Fluid flow into extracellular spaces increases due to protein accumulation (osmosis).

Question 6

What will fluid encounter on its way back into the circulatory syste, through lymphatic vessels?

Answer 6

Lymph nodes

Question 7

Where is the first place your immune system can see an antigen?

Answer 7

Lymph nodes

Question 8

Why increase the surface area of a lymph node?

Answer 8

Increase chances of immune system functioning properly.

Question 9

Afforestation/ efferent lymphatic vessels travelling through lymph node

Answer 9

Same as central nervous system

Question 10

Where are the majority of lymph nodes?

Answer 10

Close to trunk

Only a few at hands/ feet/ head etc

Question 11

Germinal centre AKA?

Answer 11

Secondary lymphoid follicles

Increased white blood cells (lymphocytes) - increased immunological activity

Question 12

Cuts etc

Answer 12

Superficial drainage
Contents of TRUNK only have DEEP drainage

Drainage routes follow route of arterial supply (back out)
If went out veins, would all go to liver.

Question 13

Where are lymph nodes found in abundance?

Answer 13

Where lots of antigens are found (gut) (deep drainage)
Close to arteries 
Top of lower limbs
Top of upper limbs
Neck

Question 14

One long vein from above knee to ‘belt level’

Answer 14

Responsible for superficial lymph drainage
Then joins with deep lymph drainage etc
The food pillows supplying arteries

Question 15

How are superficial and deep routes differentiated?

Answer 15

Planes of fascia

Question 16

What are lymphomas?

Answer 16

Primary tumours e.g hodgkins

Question 17

What are secondary tumours a result of?

Answer 17

Metastatis from other sites

Question 18

Infections in lymph nodes?

Answer 18

Tuberculosis

Glandular fever

Question 19

What parts of the body drain through thoracic duct?

Answer 19

Left upper body

Full Lower body

Question 20

Where does the upper right body drain to?

Answer 20

Lymphatic duct.

Question 21

Fat transport from gut

Answer 21

Lymph returning from small intestine is laden with absorbed fats.
(Milk in rat)

Fat has to travel through arteries first (bad design)

Question 22

What are peyers patches found?

Answer 22

Small intestine and throat

Question 23

Spleen

Answer 23

Just below abdominal,
Behind stomach
Largest lymphatic organ
Can live without spleen - but would need to be on permanent immunosuppressants.

Question 24

Cervic
axillary
Inguinal

Answer 24

Lymph node abundance

Question 25

Pre aortic nodes

Para aortic nodes

Answer 25

..

Question 26

Areas of high cell division

Answer 26

More likely to have tumour

Question 27

Cisterns chyli

Answer 27

Located just below diaphragm

Question 28

Lymphatic drainage blockage

Answer 28

Normal - 8L per day

Elephantitis- huge deformities, leakage of tissue fluids - accumulation, huge heavy structures (e.g elephant man)

Vessels blocked by parasitic worms.

Question 29

PArts of body that aren’t drained by ly,photic system?

Answer 29

Epithelium
Cartilage
Bone 
Central nervous system (already got CSF)
Majority of spleen and liver