What are the two primary functions of lymph nodes?

What are the two primary functions of lymph nodes?

• A. Filtering of blood plasma
• B. Storage of platelets
• C. Production of lymphocytes and filtration of lymph
• D. Hormone synthesis

Answer: (C)

Lymph nodes have two main roles: they filter lymph as it travels through the lymphatic system, trapping pathogens and debris, and they serve as sites where lymphocytes are activated and proliferate in response to antigens carried by the lymph. The architecture supports this: lymph arrives via afferent vessels, encounters antigen-presenting cells, and B and T cells become activated and expand to mounted immune responses, then the filtered lymph drains away through efferent vessels. The other options don’t fit because filtering blood plasma is done mainly by the spleen, platelets are stored there as well, and hormone synthesis is a function of endocrine glands, not lymph nodes.

Lymph nodes have two main roles: they filter lymph as it travels through the lymphatic system, trapping pathogens and debris, and they serve as sites where lymphocytes are activated and proliferate in response to antigens carried by the lymph. The architecture supports this: lymph arrives via afferent vessels, encounters antigen-presenting cells, and B and T cells become activated and expand to mounted immune responses, then the filtered lymph drains away through efferent vessels. The other options don’t fit because filtering blood plasma is done mainly by the spleen, platelets are stored there as well, and hormone synthesis is a function of endocrine glands, not lymph nodes.