Lymphatic System Flashcards
What are the two functions of the lymphatic system?
1) Returns tissue fluid back to the blood
2) Absorption of nutrients in the digestive system
What is the lymphatic system made up of?
Lymph vessels, lymphatic capillaries, lymph nodes and lymphatic tissue and organs
What is lymph?
Fluid transported within lymph vessels.
What process is lymph transported?
Lymphatic capillaries > lymphatic vessels > lymphatic trunks > lymphatic ducts
What are lymphatic capillaries?
Absorb interstitial fluid (excess fluid) – this fluid is lymph
Explain the transportation of lymph into the lymphatic capillaries
The fluid in the interstitial space is absorbed by the lymphatic capillaries due to hydrostatic pressure. The higher the pressure, the more fluid will move. Endothelial cells then close to prevent the fluid going back
Explain how lymph moves from the lymphatic capillaries to the lymphatic vessels
The capillaries merge to form lymphatic vessels. These vessels can not move the lymph by themselves so they require the contraction of skeletal muscle, movement of blood in nearby arteries and smoother muscle contractarian in the walls of larger lymph vessels (trunks and ducts)
Where does the lymphatic vessels go? What is this new structures purpose?
Lymphatic trunks. These trunks remove lymph from a specific major body region.
What are lymph nodes?
Small oval organs and are surrounding lymphatic vessels. They filter lymph and remove unwanted substances.
What are 4 types of lymphatic tissues and organs?
red bone marrow, the thymus, lymph nodes, and the spleen
What is the primary lymphatic structure?
the formation and maturation of lymphocytes in the red bone marrow and thymus
What is the secondary lymphatic structure?
Home for lymphocytes and other immune cells
What does lymph nodules do?
protect body organs
thymus? What is it’s function?
It’s function is to maturation T-lymphocyte.
What is the spleens function?
The spleen’s function is to filter blood.
