Lymphatic Vessels / System

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The lymphatic system is a system of glands, organs, and thin tubes that exist throughout the body. It plays a central role in the function of the body's immune defenses, among a variety of other functions. The system of tubes are known as lymph vessels or lymphatic vessels, and the number of these vessels in the body is about equivalent to the number of blood vessels. The organs of the lymphatic system include the tonsils, adenoids, spleen, and thymus (1, 2).

Just as the circulatory system carries blood throughout the body, the lymphatic system carries a liquid called "lymph," which bathes the body's cells in water and nutrients. The lymphatic system has no central pump akin to the heart, however, so lymph must be moved through the normal motion of the body and muscles (2).

Lymph contains a high number of lymphocytes (white blood cells), which are carried into and out of the blood stream as necessary (1, 2). If the body is invaded by a foreign substance, it is frequently transported from the bloodstream into the lymphatic system for disposal. The lymph nodes are primarily responsible for processing the potential harmful elements out of the lymph, while the spleen helps remove out disease-causing particles from the blood (3). Besides fighting disease and infection, the lymphatic system maintains the balance of fluids between the blood vessels and the body's tissues, and it absorbs fats from the intestinal tract and transports them to the blood (3).

Because of its disease-fighting properties, the response of the lymphatic system is an important factor in the body's fight against cancer. Primary cancer of the lymph nodes is known as lymphoma, while cancer of other parts of the lymphatic system is typically labeled according to the organ of the primary site (e.g., thyroid cancer). Cancer cells can break off and spread (metastasize) to the lymphatic system relatively easily, and because of this, the lymphatic system is one of the most common pathways for cancer cells to spread to other areas of the body. The determination of whether cancer has spread to the lymph nodes is of significance when staging cancer.

'Lymphatic Vessels / System' Sources:
  1. Lymphomation.org. http://www.lymphomation.org/lymphatic.htm, "Lymphatic System." (Accessed August 11, 2007).
  2. HowStuffWorks.com. http://health.howstuffworks.com/question138.htm, "What is Lymph."
  3. Cancer Research UK's website. http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=117, "The lymphatic system." (Accessed August 11, 2007).
  4. iVillage.com. http://cancer.health.ivillage.com/lymphomahodgkinsnon/lymphaticsystem.cfm, "Lymphatic System." (Accessed August 11, 2007).




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