The Lymphatic System
It consists of lymph vessels, lymph nodes and lymph. Lymph vessels begin in the tissues as lymph capillaries but are larger and irregular in size when compared to blood capillaries. They are situated throughout the body. Lymph nodes are also called lymph glands and they are nodular structures scattered along the course of lymph vessels. Lymph is a clear fluid collected from the tissues and which is carried through lymph vessels to blood.
As blood flows through blood capillaries, part of plasma nutrients and oxygen passes from the vessels into the surrounding tissues and forms the tissue fluid. The tissue fluid bathes the cells; nutrients and oxygen enter the cell, and waste products pass into the fluid. Part of the tissue fluid containing waste products returns to blood through the walls of blood capillaries. At the same time some tissue fluid passes into lymph capillaries and forms the lymph. This fluid is returned back into the blood stream through the subclavian veins. Lymph vessels hence play critical role in collecting excess interstitial fluid and returning it into the blood stream.
Main Functions of lymphatic System
a. It represents an accessory route by which fluid can flow from the interstitial spaces into blood.
b. Lymphatics can carry protein and even large particulate matter away from the tissue spaces, neither of which can be removed by absorption directly into blood capillaries.
c. It plays important role in absorption and transportation of long chain fatty acids and vitamin K from intestines to blood.
d. It acts as defense mechanism by assisting in the control of infection and antibody formation.
marto answered the question on April 16, 2019 at 09:06
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