The Lymphatic System

One of the most overlooked, but most important systems in the body is the lymphatic system. One of many functions in the lymphatic system is to cleanse leaked plasma of bacteria and other foreign substances and return it to the blood stream. This also acts as a surveillance system for immune system cells. Another function of the lymphatic system is to stop or slow pathogen entry, prevent disease-causing microorganisms from spreading and to strengthen the response of the immune system. Also, the lymphatic system protects against disease by destroying “foreign” cells, and by the deactivation by antibodies or toxins and other foreign chemicals. The lymphatic systems over all purpose is to filter out certain substances that could or will harm the
Thousands of lymph nodes are clustered along the walls of the lymphatic vessels waiting to destroy bacteria, viruses, and other substances on its way back into the blood stream. Lymph nodes are most commonly found along the inguinal, axillary, and cervical regions of the body. The spleen is also an organ of the lymphatic system that filters blood. This blood-rich organ is located in the left side of the abdominal cavity. In addition to filtering the blood and cleansing it of viruses, bacteria, and other debris, the spleen destroys old worn out red blood cells and stores platelets and acts as a reservoir. During hemorrhage, the spleen contracts and releases blood back into the circulatory system to help bring levels back up to normal. Another function of the spleen is as an important blood formation site in fetuses. Another organ that functions in youth is the thymus gland, the thymus gland functions in programming lymphocytes to carry out roles in the body. The next two organs are almost one in the same but in different locations. The tonsils and Peyer’s patches are both small masses of lymphoid tissue that’s sole purpose is to collect bacteria and prevent it from entering its each own organs. The tonsils line the entrance of the throat and can become red, swollen, and sore
Two systems that rely and interact with the lymphatic system are the immune and the cardiovascular systems. Without the lymphatic system, the immune system would not exist. The lymphatic system produces many things the immune system needs to function such as lymphocytes, phagocytes and macrophages. Without these three things, the immune system would have nothing to fight off and kill the bacteria, viruses, and other dangerous pathogens found in the body. If it wasn’t for the lymphatic system, the free floating plasma that escaped from its blood vessels would never be returned to the circulatory route to the heart and would constantly be free floating around the body. Without this important plasma in the blood system, important nutrients would not get transported where they need to go, to