Lymphatic System

Question 1

What is a signal of infection?

Answer 1

swelling of lymph nodes

Question 2

3 common lymph node areas

Answer 2

• cervical- drains oral and nasal cavity
• axillary- drains arm area
• inguinal-drains gential area

axiallary lymph nodes are removed in breast cancer and can lead to arm swelling

Question 3

What lymph organs is the site for T cell maturation?

Answer 3

Thymus

Question 4

What are some lymphoid organs?

Answer 4

• spleen: site of lymphocyte proliferation, immune surveillance for pathogens, remove aged RBC’s
• thymus- site of T cell maturation
• bone marrow- site of B cell maturation
• lymph nodes
• MALT- tonsils, peyers patches of small intestines (ileum), appendix

Question 5

How does edema occur?

Answer 5

Lymph vessels are NOT able to pick up fluid that leaks into interstitial tissue space

Question 6

Functions of the lymphatic system

Answer 6

1. picks up and transports excess tissue fluid as lymph, which is light yellow, and circulates it in network until reaches back to blood vessels (drops it off at junction of IJV and subclavian vein back into superior vena cava)
2. immune surveillance (protects body by immune cells in lymphoid organs patrolling and removing foreign materials from lymph stream)
3. provides a site for lymphocyte to “monitor” any invasion and for lymphocyte multiplication