Chapter 20: Lymphatic System

4. What is the name of the fluid from which lymph is made?

d. tissue or interstitial fluid

Lymphadenopathy is

disease of the lymph nodes (often accompanies infection and cancer).

List the three functions of the lymphatic system.

drainage of tissue fluid; participation in the defense of the body; absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins in the intestines.

The spleen

filters blood rather than lymph.

Thymosins

help in the maturation of T lymphocytes.

Lymph from most of the body drains

into the thoracic duct and then into the subclavian veins.

Lymphadenitis

is most often associated with an infection.

13. Which group is incorrect?

large lymphatic ducts: right lymphatic duct, thoracic duct, venae cavae

MALT refers to

lymphoid tissue scattered throughout the body in mucous membranes.

Which group is correct?

major lymph ducts: right lymphatic duct, thoracic duct

A technique to determine if cancer has spread, without performing a traditional lymph node dissection, is called a

sentinel node biopsy.

List the lymphoid organs

tonsils, thymus gland, spleen, lymph nodes. Lymphoid tissue is also found scattered throughout the body, particularly in mucous membranes (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue [MALT]).

12. Which group is incorrect?

tonsils: palatine, pharyngeal, spleen

Which of the following is not implied in the word lymphadenopathy?

Absence of

Enlargement of these nodes may indicate an upper respiratory infection.

Cervical

What is the most important role of the lymphoid organs?

In general, the lymphoid organs protect the body from infection. There is some evidence suggesting that the lymphoid organs also protect the body against certain cancers.

Which of the following is true regarding lymph?

It is formed from the plasma during capillary exchange. Approximately 85% of lymph is returned into the blood capillaries and carried away as part of the venous blood. The vessels form a one-way path, leading it back toward the large veins and heart.

Which of the following is not a function of the lymphatic system?

Its only role is to absorb water and protein from the

LYMPATHIC VESSELS Where does it go?

Lymph eventually is returned to the general circulation at the subclavian veins.

Into which veins is the lymph drained?

Lymph is drained into the subclavian veins.

What causes lymph to move toward the heart?

Lymph is not pumped by a heart like blood. Instead lymph moves in response to three mechanisms: the "milking" activity of skeletal muscle, the changes in intrathoracic pressure, and the muscle activity of the smooth muscles in the lymphatic vessels.

Where are the cervical, axillary, and inguinal lymph nodes?

Lymph nodes appear in clusters in the neck (cervical), armpit (axillary), and groin (inguinal) regions.

What are lymph nodes, and where are they located?

Lymph nodes are small patches of lymphoid tissue scattered throughout the body.

What defensive cells are located within the lymph nodes?

Lymph nodes contain lymphocytes and macrophages; both are involved with the prevention of infection.

LYMPH—WHAT IT IS, WHERE IT COMES FROM Where does it originate?

Lymph originates in the blood; the clear, watery plasma filtrate, called interstitial fluid, that is absorbed into the lymphatic vessels is the lymph.

Which of the following best describes tonsils, MALT, Peyer's patches, and the appendix?

Lymphatic nodules

Which one is not a function of the spleen?

Secretes hormones that promote the maturation of B cells

Explain why thrombocytopenia may be treated by splenectomy.

Sometimes overly aggressive splenic activity removes too many platelets from the circulation, causing thrombocytopenia and bleeding. A splenectomy diminishes the rate at which platelets are removed from the circulation.

What are the adenoids?

The adenoids are the pharyngeal tonsils.

What is the difference between the afferent and efferent lymphatic vessels?

The afferent lymphatic vessels bring lymph to the lymph nodes; the efferent lymphatic vessels transport lymph away from the lymph nodes.

Why might the lymph nodes enlarge in response to an infection?

The cells within in the lymph nodes try to fight an infection by phagocytosis. The nodes may enlarge in response to the infection-fighting activity.

Why is it important that the lymphatic capillaries have large pores?

The large pores in the lymphatic vessels allow protein to be absorbed from the interstitium into the lymphatic vessels. Proteins are large.

What is meant by the statement that the lymphatic vessels "run with the veins"?

The lymphatic vessels are distributed alongside the veins and not the arteries.

What is the function of the right lymphatic and thoracic ducts?

The main lymphatic ducts—the right lymphatic and the thoracic—drain all the lymph from the body and deliver it to the right subclavian vein and the left subclavian vein, respectively.

List the three tonsils.

The names of the tonsils are the palatine, pharyngeal, and lingual tonsils.

Which tonsil is most likely to be "ectomized"?

The palatine tonsils are most likely to be removed surgically (tonsillectomy).

What happens if the lymphatic vessels fail to absorb interstitial fluid and protein?

The person develops lymphedema.

What is the primary concern of an injury to the spleen?

The primary concern of an injured spleen is hemorrhage.

What is red pulp? White pulp?

The spleen is composed of red and white pulp. The red pulp contains blood-filled venous sinuses; the white pulp is lymphoid tissue consisting primarily of lymphocytes.

Where is the spleen located?

The spleen is located in the left upper quadrant (LUQ) of the abdominal cavity.

List four functions of the spleen.

The spleen phagocytoses pathogens in the blood, stores blood, stores platelets, and removes worn-out red blood cells.

Where is the thymus gland located?

The thymus gland is located within the mediastinum (thoracic cavity).

THYMUS GLAND What does it do?

The thymus gland participates in the development and production of the T lymphocytes. It also secretes thymosins (hormones) that participate in immune function.

The thymus gland involutes at puberty. What does this mean?

The thymus gland shrinks but remains functional.

Why do lymphatic vessels contain valves?

The valves ensure the forward movement of the lymph; they prevent backflow and stagnation of lymph.

Which of the following is true regarding tonsils?

They include palatine, pharyngeal, and lingual tonsils.

This lymphatic organ is located within the mediastinum and is the site of T cell maturation.

Thymus gland

The words sublingual, bilingual, and lingual tonsils refer to what structure?

Tongue

What are tonsils, and what role do they play?

Tonsils are masses of lymphoid tissue located strategically in the throat area. They are positioned so as to help prevent infection.

2. Which of the following best describes a tonsil?

a. a partially encapsulated lymph node

3. An adenoid is

a. a tonsil.

11. Which of the following is most true of a sentinel node biopsy?

a. diagnostic for the possibility of metastasis of cancer to the breast

10. The thoracic duct

a. empties lymph into the left subclavian vein.

5. If the spleen becomes overactive, it prematurely removes platelets from the circulation, causing thrombocytopenia. As a result, the person is likely to develop

a. excessive bleeding.

9. The lymphatic circulation

a. is most closely associated with the venous side of the circulation.

8. A mastectomy with lymph node dissection is likely to cause

a. lymphedema.

7. The term MALT

a. refers to lymphatic tissue in the mucosal membranes of many organs.

Peyer's patches

are patches of lymphatic tissue found in the lower digestive tract and perform an important phagocytic role.

8. Which of the following is not true of lymph?

b. It is pumped into the main lymphatic ducts by the heart.

1. With which of the following are lymph nodes populated?

b. Lymphocytes and macrophages

5. Which of the following statements is true about the palatine, pharyngeal, and lingual lymphatic nodules?

b. They are called tonsils.

6. On which set of tonsils is a tonsillectomy most often performed?

b. palatine

If it is necessary to remove the spleen surgically, the patient may expect to

be more prone to infection.

4. Which complication is most apt to develop in the patient who has had a breast removed (mastectomy) and lymph node dissection?

c. Lymphedema

10. Which lymphatic structure is composed of red pulp and white pulp and is called the "graveyard" of the red blood cells?

c. Spleen

7. Which of the following is least true of the spleen?

c. a vital organ (cannot live without the spleen)

1. The lymph nodes, thymus gland, spleen, and tonsils

c. are lymphatic tissue.

9. Cancer of the breast first metastasizes to the

c. axillary lymph nodes.

2. The spleen

c. engages in phagocytosis and removes worn-out RBCs and platelets from the circulation.

6. The right lymphatic duct and the thoracic duct deliver

c. lymph to the subclavian veins.

3. An overly active spleen may prematurely remove platelets from the circulation, thereby

c. predisposing the person to bleeding.

Elephantiasis is

caused by the invasion and blockage of the lymphatic vessels. the lymphatic obstruction caused by small parasitic worms called filariae. manifested by extreme swelling.

The lymph vessels

contain one-way valves that direct lymph toward their drainage site.