Bio 202 Exam 2 Question and Answer [2026] |
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam | Complete Exam Prep
• List the three main functions of the lymphatic system. -✓✓ 1. Fluid recovery
-absorbs plasma proteins and fluid - 10 to 15%- (2 to 4 L/day) from tissues and
returns it to the bloodstream
---interference with lymphatic drainage leads to severe edema
2. Lipid absorption
-Lacteals in small intestine absorb dietary lipids
3. Immunity
-Fluid 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? -✓✓ So gas exchange can occur across the membrane easily
• Compare and contrast diffusion and osmosis. Draw a couple of pictures if you
need to! -✓✓ Diffusion:
Mixing of two or more substances from an area of high concentration to an area of
low concentration to distribute an equal amount throughout
Perfume in a room
Osmosis:
Diffusion of WATER through a selectively permeable membrane from a solution
of low solute concentration (high water potential) to a solution with high solute
concentration (low water potential)
,• Describe what osmotic pressure is. Now, explain why hydrostatic pressure is.
Stop! If you don't understand this, then take some time to go over it again, or else
the lymphatic system won't make sense! -✓✓ Phil (albumin/protein in blood)
swims through the capillary - water hangs out with Phil no matter where in the
capillary he is
Phil did not change as he moved through the capillary - he stayed the same and the
water followed him
The osmotic (pulling) pressure is water being pulled into the capillary
Hydrostatic (pushing) pressure is pushing water out of the capillary by the pressure
in BVs created by the heart - Capillary like a garden hose with tiny holes in it
(doesn't have holes)
Osmotic pressure doesn't change across the capillary because Phil is the same
everywhere
Hydrostatic does change - drops as you get further from the heart - lowers as you
go from arteriole to venule
Filtration - water out of capillaries
Absorption - water into capillaries
• Diagram the relationship between CHP, IFHP, COP, and IFOP at the arteriole
and venule end of a capillary. -✓✓ CHP: Circulatory Hydrostatic pressure - In
capillary - by heart = CHP (chip) that pushes fluid out
IFHP: Intersitial Fluid Hydrostatic Pressure - pressure by the fluid that is in the
fluid around capillaries (not much - mostly insignificant)
COP: Circulatory Osmotic Pressure - pull
IFOP: Interstitial Fluid Osmotice Pressure - trying to pull water out of the capillary
- not that strong - protein trying to pull water out
,• Does filtration actually ever exactly equal reabsorption? Explain! -✓✓ 90%
reabsorbed
The interstitial fluid keeps building and building
Lymphatic system deals with remaining 10% that was never reabsorbed
• What exactly is interstitial fluid? Where does it go if it is not reabsorbed into the
capillary? -✓✓ Interstitial fluid - space around capillaries filled with fluid
If the capillary does not re-absorb the fluid, the lymphatic system takes it
• List AND describe some causes of edema which were discussed in class. -✓✓
Incr. Capillary filtration (incr. capillary BP or permeability)
Poor venous return
Congestive heart failure - pulmonary edema
Insufficient muscular activity
Kidney failure (water retention, hypertension)
Histamine makes capillaries more permeable
Decr. Capillary reabsorption
Hypoproteinemia (oncotic pressure blood albumin) cirrhosis, famine, burns, kidney
disease
Obstructed lymphatic drainage
• What can edema lead to? -✓✓ Tissue necrosis - dead tissue as result of blood
vessels getting smooshed
Pulmonary edema
suffocation
Cerebral edema
, headaches, nausea, seizures and coma
Circulatory shock
excess fluid in tissue spaces causes low blood volume and low BP
• How is edema treated? -✓✓ Exercises, Bandages
Compression garments (socks/TEDS)
Pneumatic compression
Diuretics
NO CURE
• Diagram lymphatic fluid flow from a capillary to a large vein, making sure to
indicate where the pressures are highest and lowest. -✓✓ Pressure in lymphatic is
always lower than circulatory system
(HIGH) Blood capillaries -> interstitial fluid -> lymph capillaries -> lymph veins -
> lymph ducts -> large circ. veins (LOW)
• Explain the general flow of lymph through the human body. Where are lymphatic
vessels absent? -✓✓ Always flowing towards the heart
Absent from bones, bone marrow, teeth and CNS
• Explain the importance of mini-valves in lymphatic capillaries. -✓✓ Collagen
filaments anchor flaps to connective tissue, so any increase in volume opens valves
When fluid pressure in interstitial space is greater than pressure in lymphatic
capillary, minivalves open the gate - but lymph can't leak back out because
increased pressure in lymphatic capillaries keeps gates closed
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam | Complete Exam Prep
• List the three main functions of the lymphatic system. -✓✓ 1. Fluid recovery
-absorbs plasma proteins and fluid - 10 to 15%- (2 to 4 L/day) from tissues and
returns it to the bloodstream
---interference with lymphatic drainage leads to severe edema
2. Lipid absorption
-Lacteals in small intestine absorb dietary lipids
3. Immunity
-Fluid 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? -✓✓ So gas exchange can occur across the membrane easily
• Compare and contrast diffusion and osmosis. Draw a couple of pictures if you
need to! -✓✓ Diffusion:
Mixing of two or more substances from an area of high concentration to an area of
low concentration to distribute an equal amount throughout
Perfume in a room
Osmosis:
Diffusion of WATER through a selectively permeable membrane from a solution
of low solute concentration (high water potential) to a solution with high solute
concentration (low water potential)
,• Describe what osmotic pressure is. Now, explain why hydrostatic pressure is.
Stop! If you don't understand this, then take some time to go over it again, or else
the lymphatic system won't make sense! -✓✓ Phil (albumin/protein in blood)
swims through the capillary - water hangs out with Phil no matter where in the
capillary he is
Phil did not change as he moved through the capillary - he stayed the same and the
water followed him
The osmotic (pulling) pressure is water being pulled into the capillary
Hydrostatic (pushing) pressure is pushing water out of the capillary by the pressure
in BVs created by the heart - Capillary like a garden hose with tiny holes in it
(doesn't have holes)
Osmotic pressure doesn't change across the capillary because Phil is the same
everywhere
Hydrostatic does change - drops as you get further from the heart - lowers as you
go from arteriole to venule
Filtration - water out of capillaries
Absorption - water into capillaries
• Diagram the relationship between CHP, IFHP, COP, and IFOP at the arteriole
and venule end of a capillary. -✓✓ CHP: Circulatory Hydrostatic pressure - In
capillary - by heart = CHP (chip) that pushes fluid out
IFHP: Intersitial Fluid Hydrostatic Pressure - pressure by the fluid that is in the
fluid around capillaries (not much - mostly insignificant)
COP: Circulatory Osmotic Pressure - pull
IFOP: Interstitial Fluid Osmotice Pressure - trying to pull water out of the capillary
- not that strong - protein trying to pull water out
,• Does filtration actually ever exactly equal reabsorption? Explain! -✓✓ 90%
reabsorbed
The interstitial fluid keeps building and building
Lymphatic system deals with remaining 10% that was never reabsorbed
• What exactly is interstitial fluid? Where does it go if it is not reabsorbed into the
capillary? -✓✓ Interstitial fluid - space around capillaries filled with fluid
If the capillary does not re-absorb the fluid, the lymphatic system takes it
• List AND describe some causes of edema which were discussed in class. -✓✓
Incr. Capillary filtration (incr. capillary BP or permeability)
Poor venous return
Congestive heart failure - pulmonary edema
Insufficient muscular activity
Kidney failure (water retention, hypertension)
Histamine makes capillaries more permeable
Decr. Capillary reabsorption
Hypoproteinemia (oncotic pressure blood albumin) cirrhosis, famine, burns, kidney
disease
Obstructed lymphatic drainage
• What can edema lead to? -✓✓ Tissue necrosis - dead tissue as result of blood
vessels getting smooshed
Pulmonary edema
suffocation
Cerebral edema
, headaches, nausea, seizures and coma
Circulatory shock
excess fluid in tissue spaces causes low blood volume and low BP
• How is edema treated? -✓✓ Exercises, Bandages
Compression garments (socks/TEDS)
Pneumatic compression
Diuretics
NO CURE
• Diagram lymphatic fluid flow from a capillary to a large vein, making sure to
indicate where the pressures are highest and lowest. -✓✓ Pressure in lymphatic is
always lower than circulatory system
(HIGH) Blood capillaries -> interstitial fluid -> lymph capillaries -> lymph veins -
> lymph ducts -> large circ. veins (LOW)
• Explain the general flow of lymph through the human body. Where are lymphatic
vessels absent? -✓✓ Always flowing towards the heart
Absent from bones, bone marrow, teeth and CNS
• Explain the importance of mini-valves in lymphatic capillaries. -✓✓ Collagen
filaments anchor flaps to connective tissue, so any increase in volume opens valves
When fluid pressure in interstitial space is greater than pressure in lymphatic
capillary, minivalves open the gate - but lymph can't leak back out because
increased pressure in lymphatic capillaries keeps gates closed
