Lymphatic system

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Created by
Emily Carroll

Cards (8)

  • Lymphatic system - A system of tubes that returns excess tissue fluid to the blood system
  • Not all the tissue fluid can return to the capillaries, the remainder is carried back via the lymphatic system
  • Not all the liquid will be reabsorbed by osmosis, as equilibrium will be reached
    • The rest of the tissue fluid is absorbed into the lymphatic system and eventually drains back into the bloodstream near the heart
  • The contents of the lymphatic system (lymph) are not moved by the pumping of the heart. Instead:
    • HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE of the tissue fluid that has left the capillaries
  • The contents of the lymphatic system (lymph) are not moved by the pumping of the heart. Instead:
    • CONTRACTION OF BODY MUSCLES that squeeze the lymph vessels - Valves in the lymph vessels ensure that the fluid inside them moves away from the tissues in the direction of the heart
  • The excess fluid is drained into vessels of the lymphatic system - this fluid is known as lymph
  • Lymph:
    • A colourless/pale yellow fluid like tissue fluid but containing more lipids
    • Lymph passes through the lymphatic system and drains back into the blood via the vena cava
  • Lymph contains lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) which are part of the immune system and help to filter out foreign material from the lymph