Question

At what point along the vascular path (artery, arteriole, capillaries, venule, vein) is lymph most likely to collect and why?

Answer 1

Lymphatic system consist of lymphatic vessels, lymphatic tissue and lymph. Lymph is a fluid which is formed from the interstitial fluid and collected to lymphatic vessels. The main functions of lymph is to drain excess interstitial fluid, transport dietary products and carry immune system response.

When the blood reaches the capillaries for the exchange of gases and nutrients, most of the blood plasma is filtered through the capillary walls to the interstitial fluid. The lymphatic capillaries drain the filtered excess interstitial fluid from the tissue spaces and return back to the blood.

The lymph is collected at the the capillary level of the vascular system as the thin walled capillaries allow filtration of large amount of blood plasma to the interstitial fluid. The excess Interstitial fluid is collected by the lympathic capillaries as they are more permeable then blood capillaries and form the lymph which is return to the blood.

The pathway of lymph.

Blood capillaries (plasma) interstitial space (interstitial fluid) Lymphatic capillaries (lymph) Lymphatic vessels Lymphatic ducts Junction of the internal jugular vein and subclavian vein ( blood)