Learn About The Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system has three major roles it plays in the human body, they are:

* Returns excess interstitial fluid to the blood. Only 90 percent is returned to the blood. The other 10 percent that doesn't return then becomes part of the interstitial fluid that surrounds the tissue cells.
o Small protein molecules can seep through the capillary walls and increase the osmotic pressure of the interstitial fluid. If this does occur it will further inhibit the return of the flood into the capillaries and fluid will tend to accumulate in tissue spaces. If this continues to occur the blood volume and pressure will decrease significantly and the volume of tissue fluid increases resulting in edema.

* Absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins from the digestive system and the subsequent transport of these substances to the venous circulation.
o Mucosa that lines the small intestine is covered with small finger like projections called villi. There are blood capillaries and special lymph capillaries in each of these villi called lacteals. The blood capillaries absorb most of the nutrients except for the fats and fat-soluble vitamins which are absorbed by the lacteals. The lymph in lacteals are a milky white color due to the high fat content and are called chyle.

* Most well known part the defense against microorganisms and diseases.T and B Lymphocytes and White Blood Cells and Antibodies are some of the defense team in our body. These cells are pdocuded in our red bone marrow and mature in the Thymus, which is an accessory organ in our defence system.

Fighting infection

When people say "I'm not well, my glands are up" they are really saying they have swollen lymph nodes because they have an infection. The lymphatic system helps fight infection in many ways such as

• Helping to make special white blood cells (lymphocytes) that produce antibodies              


• Having other blood cells called macrophages inside the lymph nodes which swallow up and kill any foreign particles, for example germs

The Lymphatic System chart: Wall Chart [Map]

Lymphatic System (Medical Series) [Misc. Supplies]