Lymphatic System: Lymph

The lymphatic system is the system of vessels, cells, and organs that carries excess fluids to
the bloodstream and filters pathogens from the blood.
Lymph is a clear and colorless fluid; the word "lymph" comes from the Latin word lympha,
which means "connected to water," according to the National Lymphadema Network.
The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs that help rid the body of toxins,
waste and other unwanted materials. The primary function of the lymphatic system is to
transport lymph, a fluid containing infection-fighting white blood cells, throughout the body. .
The lymphatic system primarily consists of lymphatic vessels, which are similar to the veins
and capillaries of the circulatory system. The vessels are connected to lymph nodes, where the
lymph is filtered. The tonsils, adenoids, spleen and thymus are all part of the lymphatic system.
A major function of the lymphatic system is to drain body fluids and return them to the
bloodstream.
Both your tonsils and adenoids help to trap pathogens, such as bacteria or viruses, that
enter your mouth or nose. They contain immune cells that produce antibodies that kill these
pathogens before they can spread to the rest of your body.Your adenoids are also covered by a
layer of mucus and hairlike structures called cilia. The cilia work to push nasal mucus down your
throat and into your stomach.
Adenoids are clusters of lymphatic tissue in the back of the nose, above the roof of the mouth.
You can't see them by looking in someone's mouth. They are at their largest in children between
3 and 5 years old, according to National Health Service. Normally, they start to shrink by age 7
or 8, are barely visible by the late teens and completely gone by adulthood.
There are hundreds of lymph nodes in the human body. They are located deep inside the
body, such as around the lungs and heart, or closer to the surface, such as under the arm or
groin, according to the American Cancer Society. The lymph nodes are found from the head to
around the knee area.
The spleen, which is located on the left side of the body just above the kidney, is the largest
lymphatic organ, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). "The spleen . . . acts
as a blood filter; it controls the amount of red blood cells and blood storage in the body, and
helps to fight infection," said Jordan Knowlton, an advanced registered nurse practitioner at the
University of Florida Health Shands Hospital.
If the spleen detects potentially dangerous bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms in the
blood, it — along with the lymph nodes — creates white blood cells called lymphocytes, which
act as defenders against invaders. The lymphocytes produce antibodies to kill the foreign
microorganisms and stop infections from spreading. Humans can live without a spleen, although
people who have lost their spleen to disease or injury are more prone to infections.
The thymus is located in the chest just above the heart, according to Merck Manual. This small
organ stores immature lymphocytes (specialized white blood cells) and prepares them to
become active T cells, which help destroy infected or cancerous cells.
Tonsils are large clusters of lymphatic cells found in the pharynx. According to the American
Academy of Otolaryngology, they are the body's "first line of defense as part of the immune
system. They sample bacteria and viruses that enter the body through the mouth or nose." They
sometimes become infected, and although tonsillectomies occur much less frequently today
than they did in the 1950s, it is still among the most common operations performed and typically
follows frequent throat infections.
Bone marrow is the soft, flexible tissue found inside bone. Bone marrow is responsible for the
production of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Bone marrow stem
cells play an important role in immunity as they generate lymphocytes. While some white blood
cells mature in bone marrow, certain types of lymphocytes migrate to lymphatic organs, such as
the spleen and thymus, to mature into fully functioning lymphocytes.
Lymphatic vessels are structures that absorb fluid that diffuses from blood vessel capillaries
into surrounding tissues. This fluid is directed toward lymph nodes to be filtered and ultimately
re-enters blood circulation through veins located near the heart. The smallest lymphatic vessels
are called lymph capillaries. Lymphatic capillaries come together to form larger lymphatic
vessels. Lymphatic vessels from various regions of the body merge to form larger vessels called
lymphatic trunks. Lymphatic trunks merge to form two larger lymphatic ducts. Lymphatic ducts
return lymph to the blood circulation by draining lymph into the subclavian veins in the neck.
Thoracic Duct One of these trunks, the right lymphatic duct, drains the upper right portion of
the body, returning lymph to the bloodstream via the right subclavian vein. The other trunk,
the thoracic duct, drains the rest of the body into the left subclavian vein.
The left subclavian vein plays a key role in the absorption of fats and lipids, by allowing its
products that have been carried by lymph to enter the bloodstream, where it can enter the
hepatic portal vein.
Peyer's patches are small masses of lymphatic tissue found throughout the ileum region of
the small intestine. Also known as aggregated lymphoid nodules, they form an important part of
the immune system by monitoring intestinal bacteria populations and preventing the growth of
pathogenic bacteria in the intestines.
The intestine maintains control over the intestinal microflora by means of the innate immune
response. Some of the host mechanisms to regulate intestinal homeostasis include the
expression of innate immune receptors, production of antimicrobial peptides, secretion of IgA or
autophagy of intracellular bacteria.
One of these trunks, the right lymphatic duct, drains the upper right portion of the body,
returning lymph to the bloodstream via the right subclavian vein. The other trunk,
the thoracic duct, drains the rest of the body into the left subclavian vein.
Different microbes that help the digestive system break down foods inhabit the gut. The gut
rewards these microbes by feeding them and keeping them safe. The scientists believe that
the immune system cells located in the appendix have the function of protecting the good
bacteria

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The lymphatic system is the system of vessels, cells, and organs that carries excess fluids to

the bloodstream and filters pathogens from the blood.

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