Intro To The Lymphatic System And Its Diseases

Question 1

Is the lymphatic system open or closed?

Answer 1

Open

Question 2

Give 3 features of lymphatic capillaries

Answer 2

Blind ended
No smooth muscle
Incontinuous basement membrane

Question 3

Give 3 features of collecting vessels

Answer 3

Smooth muscle coverage
Luminal valves
Basement membranes

Question 4

What is a pumping unit?

Answer 4

Segment of lymphatic vessels between two valves

Question 5

What does lymphatic drainage begin with?

Answer 5

The absorption of fluid from tissues

Question 6

What do lymph nodes do?

Answer 6

Filter the lymph and interact with the immune system

Question 7

What is lymph?

Answer 7

Interstitial fluid containing salts, proteins and cells, originally formed from plasma ultrafiltrate

Question 8

What are lymph nodes?

Answer 8

Filter stations positioned at intervals along the lymph drainage route

Question 9

What is another word for interstitial?

Answer 9

tissue

Question 10

What two basic functions do lymph nodes perform?

Answer 10

Cleaning the lymph before it re-enters the blood stream

Monitoring the lymph for signs of infections

Question 11

What are the three functions of the lymphatic system?

Answer 11

Fluid balance
Immune function
Fat absorption

Question 12

What controls the amount of fluid in a blood vessel?

Answer 12

The balance of forces in terms of hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure of proteins in the blood

Question 13

Where is the bulk of the fluid from the blood system drained into?

Answer 13

Lymphatic capillaries

Question 14

Does reabsorption take place along the blood vessel?

Answer 14

Not at homeostasis

Question 15

What is the rate limiting step for fluid drainage?

Answer 15

The lymphatic system

Question 16

What is oedema?

Answer 16

Fluid swelling of a tissue

Question 17

What causes chronic oedema?

Answer 17

Lymphatic failure (either lymph drainage is insufficient or the lymph load exceeds the capacity)

Question 18

What are the three mechanisms for chronic oedema?

Answer 18

Lymph failure with increased capillary filtration (high lymph load overwhelming drainage capacity)

Lymph failure with no increase in capillary function

Lymph failure resulting from sustained increased capillary filtration exhausting lymph drainage capacity

Question 19

What causes venous oedema?

Answer 19

High lymph load from venous hypotension overwhelming lymph drainage

Question 20

What does lymphoedema cause?

Answer 20

Swelling due to build up of fluid, cells and fat, as well as a predisposition to infections

Question 21

Why does lymphoedema often happen following breast cancer?

Answer 21

Generally you remove a lymph gland to stop the cancer spread but this increases risk of overwhelming that drainage route and the patient developing arm swelling

Question 22

What causes elephantiasis?

Answer 22

A mosquito bite-transmitted parasite that damages or blocks the lymph system in the groin

Question 23

What are the symptoms of elephantiasis?

Answer 23

Leg swelling

Question 24

When does post-thrombotic syndrome occur?

Answer 24

After a DVT

Question 25

Why does post-thrombotic syndrome occur?

Answer 25

The veins are so damaged, they cant drain fluid any more

Question 26

Why does lymphoedema follow heart failure?

Answer 26

The pressure in the veins entering the heart builds. The higher venous pressure backs up the lymph capillaries in the leg

Question 27

How is the lymphatic system related to immune function?

Answer 27

Once the immune cells interact with an antigen, they drain to the lymph system for immune processing

Question 28

How does the gut absorb fat?

Answer 28

Through the lymphatic system which takes it to the bloodstream for redistribution

Question 29

What does the lymphatic system do when fat is needed?

Answer 29

Mobilises it from peripheral and subcutaneous fat

Question 30

What happens with fat when there’s a lymphatic system blockage?

Answer 30

It builds up

Question 31

What relation does obesity have to the lymphatic system?

Answer 31

Obesity could be caused by bad lymph drainage (one option- not always!)

Question 32

What is a sentinel lymph node biopsy designed to do?

Answer 32

Detect the lymphatic spread of cancer and guide treatment

Question 33

What is podiconiosis?

Answer 33

When the lymph vessels become poisoned from silicates in the soil entering the skin and lymph system when children walk barefoot

Question 34

What can cause primary chronic lymphoedema?

Answer 34

Developmental abnormality of the lymphatic system (generally genetic)

Question 35

How do we currently manage lymphoedema?

Answer 35

Physio and pressure therapies intended to stimulate lymph drainage and reduce blood vascular filtration