College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

What is the correct order of fluid flow through a lymph node?

1. Efferent lymphatic vessel, trabecular sinus, medullary sinus, subscapular sinus, afferent lymphatic vessel

2. Afferent lymphatic vessel, subscapular sinus, trabecular sinus, medullary sinus, efferent lymphatic vessel

3. Afferent lymphatic vessel, medullary sinus, trabecular sinus, subscapular sinus, efferent lymphatic vessel

4. Subscapular sinus, efferent lymphatic vessel, trabecular sinus, medullary sinus, afferent lymphatic vessel

The correct answer is: Afferent lymphatic vessel, subscapular sinus, trabecular sinus, medullary sinus, efferent lymphatic vessel

The correct order of fluid flow through a lymph node is accurately represented by the sequence starting with the afferent lymphatic vessel, leading into the subscapular sinus, then into the trabecular sinus, followed by the medullary sinus, and finally exiting through the efferent lymphatic vessel. This flow sequence reflects how lymph, a fluid containing immune cells and various substances, enters the lymph node to be filtered. The afferent lymphatic vessels are responsible for transporting lymph into the lymph node where it first collects in the subscapular sinus, a space just beneath the capsule of the lymph node. From there, lymph moves into the trabecular sinus and then to the medullary sinus, which further facilitates the filtering process and allows immune cells to engage with any pathogens or foreign particles. Ultimately, the filtered lymph exits the lymph node through the efferent lymphatic vessel, which carries it away for further processing or return to circulation. Understanding this flow is crucial, as it highlights the primary function of lymph nodes in the immune system—filtering lymph and responding to infections or other immune challenges effectively.