BL - The Lymphatic System Flashcards

1
Q

How many litres of interstitial fluid a day does the lymphatic system collect?

A

3 litres

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What does the lymphatic system consist of?

A

FLUID (lymph), VESSELS (lymphatics), CELLS (lymphocytes and supporting cells), TISSUES and ORGANS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How is lymph propelled through the body?

A

Skeletal muscle movement, pressure changes in thorax during breathing, pulsation of adjacent arteries and veins.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What do larger lymphatic contain in their walls to help lymph flow?

A

Smooth muscle, which can contract to move lymph along.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the two types of tissue found in the lymphatic system?

A

Diffuse (MALT/GALT/BALT) and lymphatic nodules (Tonsils, Payer’s patches, vermiform appendix)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does GALT stand for?

A

Gut associated lymphatic tissue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Which organs are included in the lymphatic system?

A

Lymph nodes, thymus, spleen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What do lymph nodes do?

A

They filter lymph as it percolates on its way to the vascular system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Roughly how many lymph nodes are there n the human body?

A

700

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Each lymph node has a feeding artery and a draining vein. What do these enter and leave via?

A

The hilum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are Payer’s patches?

A

Small masses of lymph tissue found in the small intestine. They monitor bacteria populations and prevent growth of pathogenic bacteria.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Where are follicular dendritic cells located?

A

Terminal centres of lymph nodes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are follicular dendritic cells used for?

A

Antigen antibody complexes adhere to the dendritic processes and the cell can retain its antigen for months.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What do follicular cells do to B cells?

A

They cause them to proliferate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Why do T cells require the help of professional antigen-presenting cells?

A

They are unable to recognise antigens in the absence of antigen presentation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the inflammatory response?

A

The initial reaction of a body to an antigen. It is mediated mostly by neutrophils and macrophages.

17
Q

What is the role of B lymphocytes in humoral immunity?

A

They mediate it, producing antibodies which transform into plasma cells that synthesise/secrete a specific antibody.

18
Q

What is cell-mediated immunity mediated by?

A

T cells, which require antigen presenting cells to recognise the antigen.

19
Q

Why is cell-mediated immunity important?

A

Defence against viral, fungal and mycobacterial infections, tumour cells and transplant rejection.

20
Q

What is lymphadenopathy and what causes it?

A

Enlarged lymph nodes, caused by the germinal centres filling with increased numbers of lymphocytes to fight infection. Often associated with cancer.

21
Q

What are the immune functions of the spleen?

A

Antigen presentation by APCs, activation and proliferation of B and T lymphocytes, production of antibodies, removal of macromolecular antigen from blood.

22
Q

What are the haemopoietic functions of the spleen?

A

Removal and destruction of old/damaged erythrocytes, retrieval of iron from red blood cell Hb.

23
Q

Why is a ruptured spleen dangerous?

A

It has a very rich blood supply and can easily lead to death through exsanguination.

24
Q

Why is it better not to remove the spleen?

A

Splenectomy increases the risk of infection by certain bacteria and malaria, and increases the risk of DVT and pulmonary embolism.

25
Q

By what age as the thymus mostly turned into fat?

A

The late teenage years (it involutes after puberty).

26
Q

What is the role of the thymus?

A

Maturation of bone marrow derived stem cells into immunocompetent T cells - “thymic cell education”.

27
Q

What does complement consist of and what is its function?

A

A group of serum proteins that activates inflammation, destroys cells and participates in opsonisation.

28
Q

What two pathways can activate the complement cascade?

A

Classical or alternative

29
Q

What is the difference between the classical and alternative complement pathways?

A

In the classical pathway C1 is activated when it binds to an antigen-antibody complex, while in the alternative pathway C3b is activated when it reacts with antigens

30
Q

What is oedema?

A

Accumulation of an excessive amount of watery fluid in cells, tissues or serous cavities.

31
Q

What is lymphoedema?

A

Swelling as a result of obstruction of lymph vessels or nodes with accumulation of large amounts of lymph.

32
Q

How can lymphoedema be identified?

A

It does not pit, unlike oedema

33
Q

What do the complement pathways both lead to?

A

Inflammation, opsonisation, membrane attack complex.

34
Q

Why does oedema often appear first at the ankles?

A

Gravity in human body causes a vertical gradient of venous pressures