The Lymphatic System

Serena Gutierrez

Dr. Boyd

Anatomy T/Th

September 21, 2011

Lymphatic System

The Lymphatic system is the body’s defense system. It is a series of vessels that transport waste products and foreign invaders through the interstitial fluid. Interstitial fluid is crucial to the maintenance of cells and tissues. When interstitial fluid travels through the Lymphatic system, it is called Lymph.

Lymph is a colorless fluid full of lymphocytes (white blood cells), which are essential to fighting foreign invaders (bacteria and viruses). Lymph’s contain salts, protein molecules, glucose and urea. The Lymphatic system is parallel to arteries and veins throughout the human body. Once interstitial fluid (now called lymph) has entered the lymph vessels, the vessels become bigger as they carry lymph to the lymph nodes.

Lymph nodes occur in clusters in the lymphatic system throughout the body. Macrophages (large white blood cells that take up foreign particles), and lymphocytes take up foreign bodies, debris and bacteria, which removes all the unwanted material. Efferent vessels (away from organ or part) carry the protein-rich lymph to two large lymph vessels that drain into the venous system at the neck.

Lymphatic vessels of the lower limbs drain into inguinal nodes in the groin, and then empty into the cisterna chili (dilated lymph channel), which then empties into the thoracic duct. Now, lymph nodes from the right upper limb, the right side of the head and neck and thorax, drain into the right lymphatic duct, which empties into the right jugular vein.