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The lymphatic system, or lymphoid system, is an organ system in vertebrates that is part of the immune system and complementary to the circulatory system.It consists of a large network of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, lymphoid organs, lymphatic tissue and lymph.
Lymph vessels are lined by endothelial cells, and have a thin layer of smooth muscle, and adventitia that binds the lymph vessels to the surrounding tissue. Lymph vessels are devoted to the propulsion of the lymph from the lymph capillaries, which are mainly concerned with the absorption of interstitial fluid from the tissues.
Lymph (from Latin lympha ' water ') [1] is the fluid that flows through the lymphatic system, a system composed of lymph vessels (channels) and intervening lymph nodes whose function, like the venous system, is to return fluid from the tissues to be recirculated.
Nutrients travel through tiny blood vessels of the microcirculation to reach organs. [11] The lymphatic system is an essential subsystem of the circulatory system consisting of a network of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, organs, tissues and circulating lymph. This subsystem is an open system. [12]
The lymphatic vessels merge to form each trunk, which typically drains into the venous system. The left bronchomediastinal lymph trunk often empties into the thoracic duct or directly into the venous angle, where the internal jugular and subclavian veins converge. Similarly, the right trunk may connect to the right lymphatic duct or end at the ...
Lymphatic fluid gathers from the tissues and enters the valved lymphatic ducts. This 'lymph fluid' then passes back to the heart. On its way it passes through special nodular glands known as 'glands' or lymph nodes, which are concentrated in certain zones such as the back of the neck, the armpits and the groin. When a lymph node detects a ...
The fluid spaces communicate with draining lymph nodes, although they do not have lining cells or structures of lymphatic channels. [7] Interstitial fluid entering the lymphatic system becomes lymph, which is transported through lymphatic vessels until it empties into the microcirculation and the venous system. [4]
The lymph transport, in the thoracic duct, is mainly caused by the action of breathing, aided by the duct's smooth muscle and by internal valves which prevent the lymph from flowing back down again. There are also two valves at the junction of the duct with the left subclavian vein, to prevent the flow of venous blood into the duct.