Week 2 Lymphatic System Flashcards
What is the lymphatic system ?
System of tissues and vessels
Scattered throughout the body
Services almost all regions
The lymphatic vessels are a system of channels that
Parallel the venous blood vessels yet are more numerous
Tissue fluid drains from the surrounding region into the lymphatic vessels as?
Lymph
Lymph nodes filter
Lymph of a particular region
-filter and trap bacteria viruses and cancer cells
Lymph is a fluid formed in the tissue spaces and is also known as
Interstitial fluid
Lymph colour ?
Clear and colourless in most lymphatic vessels
-opaque and milky in lymphatic vessels from small intestine V/c of chylomicrons
Lymphatic vessels permit only
One way movement of lymoh
Lymphatic capillaries are?
Tiny blind ended tubes distributed in tissue space
-one cell layer of simple squamous epithelium
Lymphatic capillaries are called what in the intestinal wall
Lacteals
What are the 3 main functions of the lymphatic system
Fluid balance
Protection from infection
Absorption of fats
Fluid from blood plasma that is not reabsorbed by blood vessels drains into the
Lymphatic vessels
Lymphatic drainage prevent accumulation of
Too much tissue fluid
What live and multiply in the lymphatic system and fight off invaders
Lymphocytes
Lymphatic capillaries in the small intestine “lacterals” absorb
Digested fats from the villi of the small intestine
Lymphatic system is a ___ way system
One way system
Lymphatic circulation begins in the ____ and ends in the _____
Tissues; blood stream
There are deep and superficial lymphatic vessels. Where are they each located
Superficial - directly below the skin often beside superficial veins
Deep- deep vessels are usually larger and accompany the deep veins
Lymphatic vessels vary lymph away from regional nodes eventually draining into 1 or 2 terminal vessels which are
The right lymphatic duct and thoracic duct
Right lymphatic duct is a short vessel that receives only the lymph from the upper right quadrant of the body meaning
The upper right side of the head neck thorax and right upper extremity
Right lymphatic duct empties into the
Right subclavian vein
Thoracic duct (left lymphatic duct) drains what
The rest of the body; all parts except those superior to diaphragm on right side
-3/4 of body
Thoracic duct empties into the
Left subclavian vein
All lymph from below the diaphragm empties into the thoracic duct through the ______ and is then carried by the thoracic duct into the_____
Cisterna chyli; blood
What is chyle
Combo of fat globules and lymph
*milky fluid that drains from the lacteals in the small intestine
Movement of lymph toward the heart is caused by (3)
Valves in lymphatic vessels
Skeletal muscle contraction
Breathing
Lymph nodes are located in ?
Clusters along the pathway of lymphatic vessels
Lymphoid tissue makes up the specialized organs of the lymphatic system what does it do?
Provides immune function
Development of immune cells
What are the functions of lymphoid organs and lymph nodes
Defense and WBC formation
What do afferent lymphatic vessels carry?
Carry unfiltered lymph into the node
What is an indented area which serves as the exit for efferent lymphatic vessels
Hilum
What do afferent lymphatic vessels carry
Carry filtered lymph out of the node so that it can continue its return to the circulatory system
NB cancer cells can easily move through lymphatic vessels to other parts of the body in a process called
Metastasis
Lymph nodes are divided into 2 regions which are
Outer cortex (cortical nodules)
Inner medulla (lymphocytes and phagocytes along sinus)
Role of lymph nodes (3)
Filter the lymph
Lymphocytes kill any pathogens that may be present
Lymph nodes trap and destroy cancer cells
Where are cervical nodes located
In the neck in deep and superficial groups
What nodes are located in the armpits
Axillary
Mesenteric nodes are found where
Between two layers of peritoneum that form the mesentery
What nodes are found near the trachea and bronchial tubes
Tracheobronchial nodes
Nodes located in the groin area and termed buboes when enlarged
Inguinal nodes
What is the largest lymphoid organ that contains lymphoid tissue designed to filter blood
The spleen
What are the 4 functions of the spleen
Cleanses body by filtration and phagocytosis
Destroys old worn out RBC
Produces RBC before birth
Serves as a reservoir for blood
Surgical removal of the spleen?
Splenectomy
Studies have shown that splenectomy significantly increases?
Mortality from cardiovascular disease
The thymus gland location and key role?
Located in upper thorax behind sternum
-plays key role in early immune system development before birth and into the first few months of life until puberty
What does the thymus produce
Thymosin
Mucosal associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) function?
Barrier against infection
Helps to destroy foreign contaminants
GALT stands for
Gut associated lymphoid tissue
What are tonsils
Masses of lymphoid tissue that removes contaminants and traps pathogens
What are the three different tonsils
Palatine
Pharyngeal (adenoid)
Lingual
Lymph from the arm and breast pass through which node
Axillary
What is lymphadenopathy
Disease of lymph nodes
Enlarged nodes due to cancer and infectious diseases
-early sign of HIV
Lymphadenitis is
Inflammation of the lymph nodes
What is infectious mononucleosis
Acute viral infection caused by herpes virus (Epstein Barr virus)
-spread by saliva
-common in adolescents and young adults
-results in cervical lymphadenitis
Lymphangitis is inflammation of lymphatic vessels, it is characterized by?
Red streaks
Lymphedema is?
Edema due to obstruction of lymph flow. Caused by infection, malignant growth, loss of vessels
What is elephantiasis
Form of lymphedema
Enlargement of lower extremities resulting from blockage of lymphatic vessels by parasite infestation
Splenomegaly is enlargement of the spleen due to certain acute infectious diseases such as
Scarlet fever
Typhoid fever
Syphilis
A blood fluke (flatworm)
What is Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Chronic malignant tumour of lymph nodes
Common in young men
Nodes are enlarged particularly in the neck and also armpit thorax and groin
Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma
More common than Hodgkins
Affects older adults and people with deficient immune systems
Early sign: enlargement of lymph nodes especially in cervical region
