The Lymphatic System Flashcards
What are the functions of the lymphatic system?
Tissue drainage
Return of plasma/ plasma proteins
Fat transport from guy
Immunity
Tissue drainage
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
What is lymph?
Fluid and plasma proteins (small ones through ‘flaps’ in wall)
White cells enter lymph vessels.
Shed cancer cell scan enter lymph vessels.
Where do you look for first signs of metastasis?
Lymphatic capillaries - spread of tumour can be seen (shed cancer cells)
What increases during infection regarding fluid flow?
Fluid flow into extracellular spaces increases due to protein accumulation (osmosis).
What will fluid encounter on its way back into the circulatory syste, through lymphatic vessels?
Lymph nodes
Where is the first place your immune system can see an antigen?
Lymph nodes
Why increase the surface area of a lymph node?
Increase chances of immune system functioning properly.
Afforestation/ efferent lymphatic vessels travelling through lymph node
Same as central nervous system
Where are the majority of lymph nodes?
Close to trunk
Only a few at hands/ feet/ head etc
Germinal centre AKA?
Secondary lymphoid follicles
Increased white blood cells (lymphocytes) - increased immunological activity
Cuts etc
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.
Where are lymph nodes found in abundance?
Where lots of antigens are found (gut) (deep drainage) Close to arteries Top of lower limbs Top of upper limbs Neck
One long vein from above knee to ‘belt level’
Responsible for superficial lymph drainage
Then joins with deep lymph drainage etc
The food pillows supplying arteries
How are superficial and deep routes differentiated?
Planes of fascia
What are lymphomas?
Primary tumours e.g hodgkins
What are secondary tumours a result of?
Metastatis from other sites
Infections in lymph nodes?
Tuberculosis
Glandular fever
What parts of the body drain through thoracic duct?
Left upper body
Full Lower body
Where does the upper right body drain to?
Lymphatic duct.
Fat transport from gut
Lymph returning from small intestine is laden with absorbed fats.
(Milk in rat)
Fat has to travel through arteries first (bad design)
What are peyers patches found?
Small intestine and throat
Spleen
Just below abdominal,
Behind stomach
Largest lymphatic organ
Can live without spleen - but would need to be on permanent immunosuppressants.
Cervic
axillary
Inguinal
Lymph node abundance
Pre aortic nodes
Para aortic nodes
..
Areas of high cell division
More likely to have tumour
Cisterns chyli
Located just below diaphragm
Lymphatic drainage blockage
Normal - 8L per day
Elephantitis- huge deformities, leakage of tissue fluids - accumulation, huge heavy structures (e.g elephant man)
Vessels blocked by parasitic worms.
PArts of body that aren’t drained by ly,photic system?
Epithelium Cartilage Bone Central nervous system (already got CSF) Majority of spleen and liver
