The Lymphatic System

Question 1

What is the main function of the peripheral vascular system?

Answer 1

• Transport blood from heart via great vessels to outlying areas

Question 2

What are the three parts of the subclavian?

Answer 2

• Medial- medial to scalenus anterior, branch-vertebral artery (thyrocervical trunk- 4 branch)–> brain, internal thoracic intercostal arteries
• Scalenus- costocervical trunk- 2 branches- supreme intercostal
• Lateral- lateral to scalenus anterior

Question 3

Describe the thyrocervical trunk

Answer 3

• 4 branches (neck, shoulder)

- Ascending cervical, inferior thyroid (larynx), suprascapular artery, transverse cervical artery

Question 4

Describe the costocervical trunk

Answer 4

• 2 branches
• Deep cervical branch, supreme intercostal artery
• 2 branches: 1st and 2nd posterior intercostal arteries

Question 5

What are the 8 branches of the common carotid?

Answer 5

1- superior thyroid artery
2- ascending pharyngeal artery
3- lingual artery
4- facial artery
5- occipital artery- back of skull
6- posterior auricular artery- behind ear
7- maxillary artery
8- superficial temporal artery (2 branches frontal and parietal)

Question 6

What mnemonic can be used to remember the 8 branches of the common carotid?

Answer 6

Some Anatomists Like Freaking Out Poor Medical Students

Question 7

What are 3 jugular veins?

Answer 7

• Exterior (relatively small)
• Interior (large)
• Anterior

Question 8

What is the danger triangle of the face?

Answer 8

• Most veins drain into cavernous sinus- multidirectional drainage
• Staph aureus- on skin (when spots are popped)- enters venous system goes into facial vein–> angular vein–> ophthalmic vein–> cavernous vein
• Encephalitis

Question 9

Describe the branching of the subclavian artery

Answer 9

• Becomes axillary artery

- Between lateral end of 1st rib to inferior end of trees major

Question 10

Describe the branching of the axillary artery

Answer 10

• Lateral thoracic artery

Question 11

Describe the palmar arches

Answer 11

• Superficial palmar arch more anterior than the deep palmar arch

Question 12

Where are blood samples taken?

Answer 12

• Median cubital vein/ cephalic vein- easy access

Question 13

Describe the branching of the external iliac artery

Answer 13

• Goes past inguinal ligament
• Femoral artery
• Branch of this is femoral profunda and another branch is the superficial femoral artery

Question 14

Describe the arterial supply of the leg

Answer 14

• Genicular artery- insides of the knee
• Dorsalis pedis- allows pulse to be felt (artery usually ischaemis due to diabetes)
• Femoral artery becomes popliteal after passing popliteal fossa–> tibioperoneal artery (3 branches: anterior and posterior tibial and perineal artery)

Question 15

What are the risk factors to the vascular structure of the lower limbs?

Answer 15

• Vascular occlusion

- Cholesterol, high BP, diabetes, smoking obesity, family history, unhealthy

Question 16

Describe deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism

Answer 16

• Occluded by plaques/ blood clot (Stasis of returning blood–> clot (thrombus)
• Due to surgery, cancer, trauma, lack of movement, obesity, smoking , pregnancy
• DVT–> pulmonary embolism - e.g. pos tibial vein–> femoral–> ext iliac–> common iliac–> inf vena cava–> RA–> tricuspid valve-> RV–> pulmonary valves-> pulmonary trunk

Question 17

Where does the right lymphatic duct drain into?

Answer 17

• Subclavian artery

Question 18

Describe the thoracic duct

Answer 18

• Drains into L. subclavian artery
• Runs up anterior surface of thoracic wall
• Left to right cross over at sternal angle

Question 19

What is the cisternal chylli?

Answer 19

• Sac
• Abdomen- lymphatics pick up nutrients and enter them into blood stream at point where jugular and subclavian veins join together

Question 20

Where are parasternal lymph nodes found?

Answer 20

• Either side of sternum

- Drain into thoracic duct or bronchomediastinal lymph ducts

Question 21

What do the right lymphatic and thoracic ducts drain?

Answer 21

• RLD- right side of head, neck, upper thorax and right arm
• TD- everything else
• Severent afferent lymphatic vessels but only one efferent lymphatic vessel in a lymph node

Question 22

What is lymphedema?

Answer 22

• Leakage of lymph into surrounding tissue- causes swelling and pitting (press down and dent stays onskin

Question 23

What is a lymphoma?

Answer 23

• Cancer of lymphoid tissue- Hodgekins or non-Hodgkins

Question 24

What is elephantiasis?

Answer 24

• Lymphatic filariasis

- Parasitic worms from mosquitos that block lymph vessels

Question 25

What are lymphadenopathies?

Answer 25

• Enlarged lymph nodes from infection/ inflammation

Question 26

What are ascites?

Answer 26

• Pathological accumulation of fluid in peritoneal cavity

Question 27

Describe the path of lymph flow

Answer 27

• Afferent lymphatics- lymph to lymph node from peripheral tissue
• To subscapular space- reticular fibres, macrophages and dendritic cells here
• Next, outer cortex- B cells within germinal centres resemble lymphoid nodules
• Then, lymph sinuses in deep cortex- dominated by T cells
• Continues to medullary sinus at core of lymph node- B cells and plasma cells
• Efferent lymphatics leave node at hilum, collect lymph from medullary sinus to carry to venous circulation