Lymph movement during breathing is facilitated by what changes?

Prepare for the VTCT Level 2 Facial and Skincare Test. Revise with flashcards and multiple choice questions, accompanied by insightful explanations. Ace your assessment with confidence!

During breathing, changes in chest cavity pressure drive lymph movement. When you inhale, the diaphragm lowers and the thoracic cavity expands, creating a more negative intrathoracic pressure. This suction helps pull lymph toward the thoracic region and into the larger lymphatic channels. Exhalation increases pressure slightly, continuing to push lymph along as it moves toward the venous system, with valves preventing backflow. Lymph nodes don’t pump lymph; they filter it. Blood flow moves blood, not lymph, and while muscle contractions can assist lymph movement in other contexts, the specific factor that facilitates lymph flow during respiration is the change in internal pressure.