Lymphatics

Question 1

What are the 4 functions of the lymphatic system?

Answer 1

• Tissue drainage
• Return of plasma & proteins that leak out
• Carries absorbed fat from the gut
• Immunity

Question 2

Why does the lymphatic system need to drain tissues?

Answer 2

High pressure causes fluid to leak from the capillary bed

Some is taken back in by venules but much needs to be drained.

Question 3

Why does the Lymp. System need to return plasma & proteins?

Answer 3

Plasma and its proteins leak out the capilaries as well but cant be reabsorbed by venules so have to be returened to the venous system via the lymph.

Question 4

How is the lymphatic system involved in immunity?

Answer 4

Lymph goes via lymph nodes which contain many antibodies & lymphocytes.

Question 5

Why can lymphatic vessels absorb proteins & large molecules that blood cant?

Answer 5

Lymphatic vessels have no basement membrane

Question 6

Examples of lymphatic tissues

Answer 6

Spleen
Thymus
Marrow
Tonsils
Lymph nodes

Question 7

What makes up Lymph?

Answer 7

The fluid & plasma proteins int he vessels

Gains lymphocytes when passing through capillaires & fat when through small intestine

Question 8

What causes Lymph to flow?

Answer 8

Pressure, gravity and muscle contraction

Question 9

How is lymph flow kept unidirectional?

Answer 9

Valves

Question 10

How is lymph flow altered in an infected space?

Answer 10

• Protein accumulates in infected space
• increased fluid flow to extracellular space
• Increases lymph flow through area
• More antigens from space reach nodes & immune resposne increases.

Question 11

Where are lymph nodes found?

Answer 11

Isolated all over the body or in groups at the base of major arterial trunks

Question 12

What is a lymph node?

Answer 12

Secondary Lymphoid tissue

A filter for lymph

Question 13

When will a lymph node swell?

Answer 13

When the area it drains is infected

Question 14

What do lymph nodes do?

Answer 14

Filter pathogens out of the lymph using white cells & plasma cells.

Question 15

How do lymph nodes notify the body of pathogens?

Answer 15

By releasing antibodies and antigen-presenting cells into the lymph

Question 16

what else do lymph nodes filter out?

Answer 16

Inert particles

Question 17

How are lymphatics arranged in limbs?

Answer 17

Superficial and deep lymphoid vessels are seperated by a fascia.
Superficial lymphatics follow superficail veins & ditto for deep.

Question 18

How does lymph from superficial lymphatics return to the venous system?

Answer 18

Via the deep lymphatics.
Opening in the fascia allow the superficial to flow into the deep.
E.g. Saphenous opening at femoral triangle of lower limb.

Question 19

How are lymphoid vessels arranged in cavities?

Answer 19

They follow deep arteries.

Question 20

What lacks lymphoid drainage?

Answer 20

Eyeballs
CNS
Inner Ear
Epidermis
Cartilage
Bone

Question 21

What do superficail lymph nodes do?

Answer 21

Drain from the outer layers of fat/skin

e.g. superficial inguinal nodes at femoral triangle

Question 22

How are deep lymph nodes split?

Answer 22

Into pre-aortic nodes and para-aortic nodes

Question 23

What are pre-aortic nodes?

Answer 23

Those associated with midline and unpaired aortic branches suppling the GIT.

Question 24

What are para-aortic nodes?

Answer 24

Those associated with paired, lateral aortic branches to the body walls and paired organs.

Question 25

Where does all lymph end up?

Answer 25

In two large lymph ducts

Question 26

How does lymph return to the venous system?

Answer 26

By emptying into the venous system at the jugular/subclavian junction.

Question 27

Name the two lymphatic ducts?

Answer 27

Right lymphatic Duct

Thoracic Duct

Question 28

Where does the right lymphatic duct drain?

Answer 28

The upper right quadrant of the trunk, right of head and right arm.

Question 29

Where does the thoracic duct drain?

Answer 29

The left head, left arm, abdomen, lower limbs and upper left qadrant of the trunk.

Question 30

What primary tumors grow in lymph nodes?

Answer 30

Lymphomas such as hodgkins lymphoma

Question 31

How do tumors metastasise to the lymph nodes?

Answer 31

From pretty much everywhere as lymph flows eveyrwhere.

Nodes filter out cancer cells which stay in the node and multiply.

Question 32

What other pathologies can affect lymph nodes?

Answer 32

Infections e.g. TB & glandular fever

Inflammatory Hyperplasia

Question 33

From where to where does lymph carry fats?

Answer 33

From the small intestine to the liver

Question 34

What lymph vessels are visible to the naked eye?

Answer 34

Those in the small intestine as theyre so laden with fat they get massive

Question 35

How is the lymphatic system involved with lymphocytes?

Answer 35

IT transports them
Produces them in marrow
Matures them in thymus and lymphoid tissue.

Question 36

Where the spleen?

Answer 36

Upper left quadrant of abdomen

Question 37

What does the spleen do?

Answer 37

routinely discharges a large amount of blood by smooth muscle contraction.

Question 38

What is the largest lymphatic organ?

Answer 38

Spleen

Question 39

What are the 3 palpable lymph nodes?

Answer 39

Axillary
Cervical
Inguinal

Question 40

Order the types of lymph vessles

Answer 40

'blind' capillaries
Vessels
Trunks
Ducts (thoracic/right)
Then onto venus blood supply.