Lymphing Along Trivia Quiz

Answer: fresh water

Lympha is also written as a plural, Lymphae, most likely as a result of being mixed with nymphs when the Greek/Roman cultures intermingled.

Lympha and Fontus (or Fons, the god of wells and springs) are associated with Neptune, the god of water.

Chyle, which is collected from the digestive system, is a mixture of lymph and fatty acids, and looks milky-white.

Answer: Hippocrates

Ok, lymph nodes were mentioned in one sentence in "On Joints", but it still counts.

Although none of the works in the Hippocratic Corpus can be definitively attributed to Hippocrates (~460 - ~370 BC) himself, "On Joints" is one of the 13 works considered as possibly genuine.

Olaus Rudbeck (1630-1702) and Thomas Bartholin (1616-1680) both independently published the first studies on the human lymphatic system in 1652-53.

Answer: blood plasma

The composition of lymph varies as it is collected from the interstitial fluid, and contains white blood cells as well as bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, etc. as part of the immune system. It may also contain fatty acids from the digestive system (where it is called chyle).

While not technically correct, lymph is approximately similar to blood minus the red blood cells.

Answer: 500-700

Lymph nodes are found in clusters, with main clusters in the neck, armpit, groin, and in a central line in the torso (chest and abdomen).

Lymph nodes vary in size from a few millimeters to 2 centimeters in length.

Answer: one-way valves

Lymph vessels contain sections called lymphangions in between one-way valves. As the lymphangion fills with lymph, the pressure builds up until the valve opens and the lymph passes through.

Afferent lymph vessels carry lymph from the body to a lymph node, while efferent lymph vessels carry lymph away from a lymph node to another lymph node, a vein, or a lymph duct.

Answer: mammals

Mammals have an open lymphatic system. Interstitial fluid is collected and delivered by the lymphatic system.

Along with amphibians, reptiles, and ratites (flightless birds), lungfish have lymph hearts as well.

Answer: spleen

Remembering the anatomy of the spleen is as easy as 1x3x5x7x9x11; the human spleen is approximately 1 inch by 3 inches by 5 inches in size, weighs about 7 ounces, and is located between the 9th and 11th rib on the left hand side of the body.

During prenatal development, the spleen is responsible for creating red blood cells until the bone marrow takes over, in approximately the fifth month.

While the tonsils and thymus are also part of the lymphatic system, the skin is not.

Answer: 2

The lymphatic system has two very unequal drainage areas.

The right drainage area is responsible for the right arm and the right side of the chest. The left drainage area is responsible for the rest of the body.

Answer: non-Hodgkin

Hodgkin lymphomas are identified by the presence of large Reed-Sternberg cells. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas do not have these cells.

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies 5 classes of lymphomas: mature B cell neoplasms, mature T cell and natural killer cell neoplasms, precursor lymphoid neoplasms, Hodgkin lymphoma, and immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders.

Thomas Hodgkin (1798-1866) first described the disease in his 1832 paper, "On Some Morbid Appearances of the Absorbent Glands and Spleen".

Answer: fluid retention / swelling

Primary lymphedema is an inherited condition. Secondary lymphedema is the result of damage to the lymphatic system, usually due to surgery or radiation treatment of a nearby area.

Fluid builds up in the lymphatic system, usually in the extremities, due to improper drainage. It can take weeks or months after the initial damage for this build up to be noticeable.

While there is no cure or way to repair the damage to the lymphatic system, depending on the severity of the lymphedema, treatment can include massage, exercise, and compression garments or bandages.