Video Transcript
What specialized cells are stored
in the lymph nodes? (A) Oocytes, (B) hemocytes, (C)
lymphocytes, or (D) gametocytes.
The lymph nodes form part of the
human lymphatic system, which is closely linked to the circulatory system. Let’s start by taking a look at how
these two systems interact at a section of body tissue, and then the role of lymph
nodes, to figure out the answer.
In the circulatory system, blood is
pumped from the heart to the different tissues of the body through blood
vessels. These blood vessels branch into
smaller and smaller vessels, eventually delivering the blood into capillaries, which
form a network around the cells of the tissues. Fluids containing oxygen and other
nutrients are released from the capillaries and into the interstitial spaces between
the body cells, which are filled with interstitial fluid.
The cells take up the nutrients
they need and release their waste products back into the interstitial fluid. Most of the fluid remaining is then
taken up by the capillaries and fed back into the bloodstream to be returned to the
heart. The small volume of fluid that
remains in the interstitial spaces is collected by vessels of the lymphatic system
called lymphatic capillaries, to eventually be returned to the circulatory
system.
Once interstitial fluid has been
taken up by the lymphatic system, it is called lymph. As lymph is derived from
interstitial fluid, it is also derived from blood plasma, which is 90 percent water,
but also carries proteins, fats, salts, and white blood cells. It might also carry pathogens. As the lymph passes through the
lymphatic system on its way back to the bloodstream, it passes through lymphatic
organs called lymph nodes.
Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped
structures located in clusters all over the body that store white blood cells called
lymphocytes. If the lymph passing through the
lymph nodes contains pathogens, the lymphocytes become activated and can generate an
immune response to the pathogen, destroying or inactivating it. Lymphocytes can leave the lymph
nodes as part of lymph and travel through the lymphatic system to attack similar
pathogens throughout the body.
We now have enough information to
answer our question correctly. The specialized cells that are
stored in the lymph nodes are (C), lymphocytes.
