Lymphatic System

• What is the function of the lymphatic system?

  • drains excess interstitial fluid, and plasma proteins
  • transports dietary lipids and vitamins from GI tract
• Lymphatic capillaries are found in all tissue except...

  • avascular tissue
  • portions of spleen, red bone marrow
• what do lymphatic capillaries contain the prevent the tube from collapsing?

  • anchoring filaments
• What are lacteals?

  • lymphatic capillaries in villi of small intestine.
  • absorb dietary lipids
  • contain creamy-white called chyle
• lymph nodes form ___ around viscera


  plexus
• when lymphatic vessels unite they form...

  trunks
• trunks drain into 


  ducts
• Where does the thoracic duct begin?

  cisterna chyli
• the flow of lymph is promoted by the..

  respiratory pump

  muscular pump
• What make up the primary lymphatic organs

  • red bone marrow
  • thymus gland
• what make up the secondary lymphatic organs?

  • lymph nodes
  • lymphatic nodules
  • spleen
• Diffuse lymphatic tissue is found in..

  CT of mucosa in GI, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive tract.
• What is the role of the thymus gland.

  • trains pre - T cells to become mature t cells
• infants contain ___ g

  70
• What are the two lobes of the thymus gland?

  • cortex
  • medulla
• cortex (surrounding)

  • large number of T cells.
  • dendritic cells
  • epithelial cells
  • macrophages
• ___% of cortex cells die from apoptosis

  98
• medulla


  scattered cells

  thymic corpuscles (clusters of epithelial cells)
• lymph nodes are found in

  • cervical region
  • mammary glands
  • axillae
  • inguinal region
  • mesentery
• the lymph nodes stroma has...

  • capsule
  • trabeculae
  • reticular fibers
• the lymph nodes parenchyma is divided into..

  • cortex
  • medulla
• The outer cortex of the lymph node contains the

  germinal center
• the germinal centers contain...

  B cells --> antibody secreting plasma cells

  dendritic cells --> antigen presenting cells

  macrophages
• the inner cortex of the lymph node contains the

  T-cells, dendritic cells
• The medulla of the lymph node contains the

  B cells + plasma cells --> medullary cords
• the spleen contains the 


  largest collection of lymphoid tissue
• the stroma of the spleen contains..

  • capsule
  • trabeculae
  • fibers
  • fibroblasts
• The parenchyma of the spleen contains

  red pulp and white pulp
• the spleens red pulp contains

  • venous sinuses filled with blood.
  • splenic cords
• the spleen acts as a

  blood reservoid