BIO-202L: Lymphatic System 2026
Questions and Answers
List the three main functions of the lymphatic system. - Answer -*Fluid recovery:
(absorbs plasma proteins and fluid-10 to 15% (2 to 4 L per day) from tissues and
returns it to blood stream)
-interference with lymphatic drainage leads to severe trauma
*Lipid absorption: (lacteals in small intestine absorb dietary lipids)
*Immunity: (fluids has to go through lymph nodes on way back to bloodstream
where immune cells stand ready)
Why does it matter that the endothelium of capillaries are only one cell layer thick?
- Answer -Capillaries-->distribute oxygenated blood out to the tissues of your
body, and then move deoxygenated blood from the tissues back into the veins
*Allows oxygen to be easily distributed and allows carbon dioxide to be easily
collected while collecting wastes
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Compare and contrast diffusion and osmosis. - Answer -Diffusion: mixing of two
or more substances from an area of high concentration to an area of low
concentration
*perfume in a room
Osmosis: diffusion of WATER through a membrane from a solution of low solute
concentration (high water potential) to a solution with high solute concentration
(low water potential)
What is osmotic pressure? - Answer -Osmotic Pressure (Colloid; Oncotic): high
concentrate of substance tries to diffuse (disperse) to become equal through the
area BUT this occurs over a membrane.
-The membrane restricts movement of bigger solutes
-In the blood the big solutes are: Albumin (protein)
*no big particles move
What is hydrostatic pressure? - Answer -Hydrostatic Pressure: hose with holes,
fluid "wants" to go out of blood
What is CHP? - Answer -Circulatory Hydrostatic Pressure
What is IFHP? - Answer -Interstitial Fluid Hydrostatic Pressure
What is COP? - Answer -Circulatory Osmotic Pressure
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, What is IFOP? - Answer -Interstitial Fluid Osmotic Pressure
Does filtration actually ever exactly equal reabsorption? - Answer -
What is interstitial fluid? Where does it go if it is not reabsorbed into the capillary?
- Answer --The fluid forced out of the arterial ends of capillary beds, most is
reabsorbed, the part that remains in tissue is interstitial fluid (3-4 L/day)
*when you scrap yourself but not enough to bleed, interstitial fluid seeps out
*the fluid must make its way back to the bloodstream, the lymphatic vessels
collect this extra protein-containing interstitial fluid (lymph) and return it to the
bloodstream
What is Edema? - Answer -Observable swelling from fluid accumulation in body
tissues (most common in feet and legs)
What are the causes of Edema? - Answer -CAUSES of Edema:
*Increase in capillary filtration (increase BP or permeability)
-poor venous return
-congestive heart failure-pulmonary edema
-insufficient muscular activity
-Kidney failure (water retention, hypertension)
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
Questions and Answers
List the three main functions of the lymphatic system. - Answer -*Fluid recovery:
(absorbs plasma proteins and fluid-10 to 15% (2 to 4 L per day) from tissues and
returns it to blood stream)
-interference with lymphatic drainage leads to severe trauma
*Lipid absorption: (lacteals in small intestine absorb dietary lipids)
*Immunity: (fluids has to go through lymph nodes on way back to bloodstream
where immune cells stand ready)
Why does it matter that the endothelium of capillaries are only one cell layer thick?
- Answer -Capillaries-->distribute oxygenated blood out to the tissues of your
body, and then move deoxygenated blood from the tissues back into the veins
*Allows oxygen to be easily distributed and allows carbon dioxide to be easily
collected while collecting wastes
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Compare and contrast diffusion and osmosis. - Answer -Diffusion: mixing of two
or more substances from an area of high concentration to an area of low
concentration
*perfume in a room
Osmosis: diffusion of WATER through a membrane from a solution of low solute
concentration (high water potential) to a solution with high solute concentration
(low water potential)
What is osmotic pressure? - Answer -Osmotic Pressure (Colloid; Oncotic): high
concentrate of substance tries to diffuse (disperse) to become equal through the
area BUT this occurs over a membrane.
-The membrane restricts movement of bigger solutes
-In the blood the big solutes are: Albumin (protein)
*no big particles move
What is hydrostatic pressure? - Answer -Hydrostatic Pressure: hose with holes,
fluid "wants" to go out of blood
What is CHP? - Answer -Circulatory Hydrostatic Pressure
What is IFHP? - Answer -Interstitial Fluid Hydrostatic Pressure
What is COP? - Answer -Circulatory Osmotic Pressure
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, What is IFOP? - Answer -Interstitial Fluid Osmotic Pressure
Does filtration actually ever exactly equal reabsorption? - Answer -
What is interstitial fluid? Where does it go if it is not reabsorbed into the capillary?
- Answer --The fluid forced out of the arterial ends of capillary beds, most is
reabsorbed, the part that remains in tissue is interstitial fluid (3-4 L/day)
*when you scrap yourself but not enough to bleed, interstitial fluid seeps out
*the fluid must make its way back to the bloodstream, the lymphatic vessels
collect this extra protein-containing interstitial fluid (lymph) and return it to the
bloodstream
What is Edema? - Answer -Observable swelling from fluid accumulation in body
tissues (most common in feet and legs)
What are the causes of Edema? - Answer -CAUSES of Edema:
*Increase in capillary filtration (increase BP or permeability)
-poor venous return
-congestive heart failure-pulmonary edema
-insufficient muscular activity
-Kidney failure (water retention, hypertension)
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
