introduction to the lymphatic system

Question 1

what is the Lymphatic System?

Answer 1

→ countercurrent system draining from the tissues all waste materials and recycling surplus fluid, salts, proteins, fat and immune cells back to body
→ Lymphatic System is the cleansing system

Question 2

The lymphatic system (Drainage)

Answer 2

→network of drainage tubes connected to lymph glands

→act as drainage channels for the body’s tissues

→one way drainage system

→Starting with small blind ending tubes like sea anemones they drain into small streams and then ever bigger channels drain to lymph glands and beyond before eventually draining back into the blood circulation in the great veins of the neck.

Question 3

Lymphatic system appearance

Answer 3

→Dermal lymphatic vascular network

→Lymphatic capillaries (initial lymphatics):
→ Blind ended No smooth muscle
→Incontinuous basement membrane

→Collecting vessels:
→Smooth muscle coverage
→Luminal valves Basement membrane

Question 4

what do Initial lymphatics absorb?

Answer 4

→ fluid
→ salts
→proteins and cells from the tissues to make lymph.

Question 5

where is lymph transported to?

Answer 5

→transported down bigger lymphatic vessels which actually contract so pumping lymph onwards

Question 6

what do valves ensure?

Answer 6

→Valves ensure lymph flow is in one direction (downstream) to the lymph glands (nodes) and beyond

Question 7

what happens once the lymph is absorbed into initial lymphatics?

Answer 7

→Once absorbed into initial lymphatics
→lymph is pumped up the leg
→because larger lymphatic vessel contract in a similar way to our main heart

Question 8

what do lymph nodes filter?

Answer 8

filter the lymph where there is also interaction with the immune system

Question 9

discharging lymph

Answer 9

→After passing through a series of lymph nodes

→ large lymphatic vessels eventually discharge lymph into great veins of the neck

Question 10

what is lymph?

Answer 10

→Lymph is interstitial (tissue) fluid containing
→salts, proteins and cells,
→originally formed from a plasma ultrafiltrate

Question 11

What are lymph nodes (Glands)?

Answer 11

→Lymph glands are filter stations positioned at intervals along the lymph drainage route

Question 12

what is the function of lymph nodes?

Answer 12

→ clean up the lymph before it re-enters the blood stream
→by sieving out
→ trapping and destroying (inorganic) foreign materials →Monitoring the lymph for tell tale signs of (organic) predators e.g.infection
→ plays a vital role in our immune system responses

Question 13

what is the first function of the lymphatic system?

Answer 13

fluid balance(homeostasis)