FUNCTIONS OF THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs that primarily consists of lymph vessels, lymph nodes and lymph.The tonsils, adenoids, spleen and thymus are all part of the lymphatic system. There are 600 to 700 lymph nodes in the human body that filter the lymph before it returns to the circulatory system. When bacteria are recognized in the lymph fluid, the lymph nodes make more infection-fighting white blood cells, which can cause swelling. The lymph flows in only one direction — upward toward the neck — within its own system. It flows into the venous blood stream through the subclavian veins, which are located on either sides of the neck near the collarbones. Plasma leaves the cells once it has delivered its nutrients and removed debris. Most of this fluid returns to the venous circulation through the venules and continues as venous blood. The remainder becomes lymph.

Lymph leaves the tissue and enters the lymphatic system through specialized lymphatic capillaries.

The main functions of the lymphatic system are:

• To collect and transport tissue fluids from the inter-cellular spaces in all the tissues of the body, back to the veins in the blood system.
• To returning plasma proteins to the bloodstream
• To transport digested fats from the villi in the small intestine to the bloodstream via the lacteals and lymph vessels.
• To manufactured new lymphocytes and antibodies in the lymph nodes to assist the body to build up an effective immunity to infectious diseases;
• To filter out micro-organisms (such as bacteria) and foreign substances such as toxins, etc.
• To transports large molecular compounds such as enzymes and hormones from their manufactured sites to the bloodstream.

You can click on the link below for some practice questions:

1. Lymphatic system

2. Phagocytic cells

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU SELECT A NURSING SCHOOL

There are few things to consider when you want to chose a nursing program.

1. The passing rate on the NCLEX.
NCLEX is the exam that has to be passed before a license to practice is awarded. Some schools/programs have low passing rates. You don't want to throw your money away by going to a school that consistently have low rates. Below is a link to one of the reports on passing rates for the year 2013 for in USA Nursing schools and the states.

Click here for the report.

Few observation:

•  Students trained outside the USA tend to have low passing rates. 
• Second time test takers also tend to have low passing rates.
• Some states have better prepared nursing graduate.

2. Do the faculty have a caring attitude toward the students? Do they have genuine interest in the students? You can find this out by talking to current students in the program.

3. Does the program have a state of art facility to train the nursing students?

4. How affordable is the program?

5. How rigorous is the program? Is it an accelerated program or 4-year BSN program?

6. Will you be able to combine the program with your work schedule? Do you have to give up work completely or work on part-time basis?

7. What is the current and established graduation rates for the program?
Note that a lot of people who start nursing programs never get to complete. About 50-60% of all students who start nursing programs will dropout. Therefore, always have plan A and plan B just in case so that you don't waste time or get disappointed. The schools are rated by their passing rates on the NCLEX so the nursing instructors are very tough. You definitely have to perform well to graduate and to pass the NCLEX.

BIOLOGY PRACTICE TEST - 4

You can click on the link below to practice on any of the test.

1. Respiration-1

2. Respiration-2

3. Respiration-3

4. Respiration-4 

5. Respiration-5

6. Respiration-6

7. Respiration-7

8. Taste

9. Smell

TO SUCCEED IS TO ENDURE!

When life's seems to hit you in the face like raging storms,
When you seem to be discouraged by daily chores,
Take courage in your heavenly stores,
For there you will find strength in quantum bits.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue,
You can chose to be what you want to be,
Riches and poverty are choices to make,
Success or failure you can choose to be,
Both separated by a fine line of will.

Life's struggles are for a while,
Pursue knowledge and seek out for wisdom,
For success and riches are within your reach.
Never give up! Gird up your loins with endurance.
For persistence and perseverance will work the miracle.

BIOLOGY TEST-3

You can click on the link below to take a test.

1. Striated muscles

2. Action Potential

3. ABO Blood Groups

4. Digestion-1

5. Digestion-2

6. Digestion-3

7. Digestion-4

8. Digestion-5

9. Digestion-6

10. Endoscopy of the digestive system

FROM THE SHORES OF JAMAICA

Once in a while, it is good to pause and admire the beauty of nature. This was created by an organism living on the Jamaican beach. Can you identify the type of organism that produced this?