Lymphatic System

Question 1

Where does lymph drain to on the upper right quadrant?

Answer 1

Right lymphatic duct

Question 2

Where does lymph drain to from everywhere else in the body?

Answer 2

Thoracic duct on the left

Question 3

Where does all lymph empty into the venous system?

Answer 3

Jugular/subclavian (vein) junction in upper left

Question 4

What occurs at lymph nodes?

Answer 4

WBC’s and lymphocytes phagocytose pathogens and transport their waste products though the lymphatic system

Question 5

Relationship between the flow and size of lymphatic vessels?

Answer 5

Unidirectional flow parallel to capillary flow, and size of lymphatic vessels increases after lymph nodes so waste can be transported up back to the venous system

Question 6

How does lymphatic system take up fat and why?

Answer 6

At the gut it’s absorbed into the lymphatic system to be returned to the blood. This is because fats are too big to enter capillaries at the gut

Question 7

What is the largest lymphatic organ?

Answer 7

Spleen

Question 8

What is the role of the spleen and how does it function?

Answer 8

Found in upper left abdomen, peritonised. Filters waste pathogens out of blood by creating WBC’s. stores a lot of blood. Smooth muscle allows it to contract

Question 9

How much fluid exits out capillaries and how much of that is taken up by lymphatic system?

Answer 9

20L in total is pushed out the capillaries by hydrostatic pressure, and most taken back up immediately. 3L taken into lymphatic system as lymph

Question 10

How is lymph involved in the metastasis of cancer cells?

Answer 10

Cancer can exit the blood and get taken up with lymph fluid. Lymph nodes should have the WBC’s to destroy this, but if it gets passed then it can settle elsewhere and metastasise

Question 11

Why do lymph nodes become swollen?

Answer 11

When our body is fighting pathogens, as this occurs in the lymph nodes as a 2* lymphatic orgam

Question 12

What happens if their is a blockage in your lymphatic system?

Answer 12

Oedema. Arms or legs can swell

Question 13

Which kinds of tumours are classified by tumours in lymph nodes?

Answer 13

Primary tumours, like Hodgkins lymphomas (over proliferation of b lymphocytes)
Secondary tumours, which have metastasised from another organ to the lymphatic system

Question 14

Where are lymph nodes found in the body?

Answer 14

450 total. Found solo o grouped, usually at the base of major arterial trunks, e.g. inguinal nodes near groin and axillary nodes near armpit

Question 15

Where are the majority of our lymph nodes based and why?

Answer 15

250/450 associated with mesenteries. To prevent live commensal gut/intestinal bacteria from escaping into the immune system. Also we consume many antigens

Question 16

What is a germinal centre and where is it found?

Answer 16

Found in lymph nodes, site of proliferating b cels into plasma and memory cells

Question 17

Why does lymph pass slowly through lymph nodes?

Answer 17

Each lymph node is vascularised with arteries and veins. Slow flow allows lymph to pick up waste

Question 18

What is the sentinel node?

Answer 18

First node you’d expect cancer to metastasise from a primary tumour

Question 19

What causes fluid to enter the lymphatic system?

Answer 19

Capillary hydrostatic pressure pushed plasma (tissue) fluid out. If interstitial pressure is greater than lymphatic capillary pressure, endothelial valves open and fluid enters lymphatic capillaries

Question 20

What is lymph composed of?

Answer 20

Fluid and plasma proteins only. It gains lymphocytes while flowing through capillaries and channels, via lymph nodes. Fats added in small intestine

Total - fluid, plasma proteins, lymphocytes, fat

Question 21

What are 4 functions of the lymphatic system?

Answer 21

Tissue drainage, return of plasma and plasma proteins to vascular system, immunity, absorption of fat from gut

Question 22

What are the names of the nodes at the armpits and groin?

Answer 22

Axillary and inguinal