Lymphatic System Structure and Function
Lymphatic system
The lymphatic system drains away excess fluid that does not return to the blood capillaries; absorbs fats from the small intestine and protects against foreign invaders.
Structure of the lymphatic system:
- Capillaries – function – allows for easy passage of soluble materials and water
- Lymphatic vessels – function – to carry lymph
- Superficial vessels – small vessels near superficial veins immediately below the skin
- Deep vessels – larges vessels near deep veins
- Lymphatic tissues – function – removal of impurities and processing cells which combat infection and fight foreign invaders
- Lymph nodes – filters lymph once it is drained from the tissues
- Tonsils – filters tissue fluids
- Thymus – development of immune system before birth and the first few months of infancy.
- Spleen – filters blood, destructs old red blood cells, produces red cells before birth, stores blood
- Lymphatic tissues – function – removal of impurities and processing cells which combat infection and fight foreign invaders
- Right lymphatic duct – function – drains upper right part of the body and empties into right subclavian vein
- Thoracic duct – function – drains remainder of body and empties into left subclavian vein