Where is lymphatic system

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Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. The lymphatic system and fluid balance Lymphatic vessels Spleen Thymus Other lymphoid tissue Lymph nodes Common problems involving the lymphatic system Where to get help.

The main roles of the lymphatic system include: managing the fluid levels in the body reacting to bacteria dealing with cancer cells dealing with cell products that otherwise would result in disease or disorders absorbing some of the fats in our diet from the intestine.

The lymphatic system and fluid balance The blood in our blood vessels is under constant pressure. Lymphatic vessels The lymphatic vessels are found everywhere in our body. Spleen The spleen is located in the abdominal tummy area on the left side, just under the diaphragm. Thymus The thymus is inside the ribcage, just behind the breastbone. Other lymphoid tissue Much of our digestive and respiratory system is lined with lymphatic tissue. Lymph nodes Lymph nodes are filters. Common problems involving the lymphatic system Common problems involving the lymphatic system can be separated into those related to: infection disease destruction or damage to the lymphatic system or its nodes.

Those related to malformation or destruction or damage to the lymphatic system or its nodes include: primary lymphoedema — when the lymphatic system has not formed properly.

May present as a limb or part body swelling at birth, or may develop at puberty or later in life secondary lymphoedema — When the lymphatic system is damaged by surgery or radiotherapy associated with the treatment of cancer, when the soft tissues are damaged by trauma, or when the lymphatic system has some other cause of structural or functional impairment. Where to get help Your GP. Menu Contact Dictionary Search. Understanding Cancer. What Is Cancer? Cancer Statistics.

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Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer. Emotional Support for Young People with Cancer. Cancers by Body Location. Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Treatment. Pediatric Supportive Care. Rare Cancers of Childhood Treatment. Childhood Cancer Genomics. Study Findings. Metastatic Cancer Research. Lymph is a clear fluid that is derived from blood plasma. They work in a similar way to the blood vessels. The lymph vessels work with the veins to return fluid from the tissues.

Unlike blood, the lymphatic fluid is not pumped but squeezed through the vessels when we use our muscles. The properties of the lymph vessel walls and the valves help control the movement of lymph.

However, like veins, lymphatic vessels have valves inside them to stop fluid from flowing back in the wrong direction. Lymph is drained progressively towards larger vessels until it reaches the two main channels, the lymphatic ducts in our trunk. From there, the filtered lymph fluid returns to the blood in the veins. The vessels branch through junctions called lymph nodes. These are often referred to as glands, but they are not true glands as they do not form part of the endocrine system.

In the lymph nodes, immune cells assess for foreign material, such as bacteria, viruses, or fungus. Lymph nodes are not the only lymphatic tissues in the body. The tonsils, spleen, and thymus gland are also lymphatic tissues.

In the back of the mouth, there are tonsils. These produce lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, and antibodies. They have a strategic position, hanging down from a ring forming the junction between the mouth and pharynx. This enables them to protect against inhaled and swallowed foreign bodies.

The tonsils are the tissues affected by tonsillitis. The spleen is not connected to the lymphatic system in the same way as lymph nodes, but it is lymphoid tissue. This means it plays a role in the production of white blood cells that form part of the immune system.

Its other major role is to filter the blood to remove microbes and old and damaged red blood cells and platelets. The thymus gland is a lymphatic organ and an endocrine gland that is found just behind the sternum. It secretes hormones and is crucial in the production, maturation, and differentiation of immune T cells.

Bone marrow is not lymphatic tissue, but it can be considered part of the lymphatic system because it is here that the B cell lymphocytes of the immune system mature.

During gestation, the liver of a fetus is regarded as part of the lymphatic system as it plays a role in lymphocyte development. Explore the model using your mouse pad or touchscreen to understand more about the lymphatic system. The lymph system has three main functions. The lymphatic system helps maintain fluid balance.

It returns excess fluid and proteins from the tissues that cannot be returned through the blood vessels. The fluid is found in tissue spaces and cavities, in the tiny spaces surrounding cells, known as the interstitial spaces.

These are reached by the smallest blood and lymph capillaries. Around 90 percent of the plasma that reaches tissues from the arterial blood capillaries is returned by the venous capillaries and back along veins. The remaining 10 percent is drained back by the lymphatics.

Each day, around liters is returned. This fluid includes proteins that are too large to be transported via the blood vessels. Loss of the lymphatic system would be fatal within a day.

Without the lymphatic system draining excess fluid, our tissues would swell, blood volume would be lost and pressure would increase. Most of the fats absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract are taken up in a part of the gut membrane in the small intestine that is specially adapted by the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system has tiny lacteals in this part of the intestine that form part of the villi.

These finger-like protruding structures are produced by the tiny folds in the absorptive surface of the gut. Lacteals absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins to form a milky white fluid called chyle.