Lymphatic system, part of your immune system, has many functions. They include protecting your body from illness-causing invaders, maintaining body fluid levels, absorbing digestive tract fats and removing cellular waste. Blockages, diseases or infections can affect your lymphatic system’s function.
Your lymphatic system has many functions. Its key functions include:
- Maintains fluid levels in your body: As just described, the lymphatic system collects excess fluid that drains from cells and tissue throughout your body and returns it to your bloodstream, which is then recirculated through your body.
- Absorbs fats from the digestive tract: Lymph includes fluids from your intestines that contain fats and proteins and transports it back to your bloodstream.
- Protects your body against foreign invaders: The lymphatic system is part of the immune system. It produces and releases lymphocytes (white blood cells) and other immune cells that monitor and then destroy the foreign invaders — such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi — that may enter your body.
- Transports and removes waste products and abnormal cells from the lymph.
- The lymphatic system consists of a network of lymphatic vessels that transport lymph. It also consists of various organs, such as the spleen and thymus. The lymphatic system is needed for the body to feel good. It is important for the fluid balance in the body and for the body’s defense against infections.
- Tasks of the lymphatic system
These are the most important tasks of the lymphatic system: - The lymphatic system maintains the fluid balance in the body along with the blood system. This is done by transporting excess fluid from different parts of the body. This fluid is called lymph.
The lymphatic system participates in the body’s defenses against bacteria, viruses and cancer.
The lymphatic system transports away high-molecular-weight waste products (dead cells, lactic acid, proteins, fats, bacteria, etc.).
Different parts of the lymphatic system
The lymphatic system consists of several parts: - lymph, a fluid found in the body
lymphatic vessels that transport the lymph
lymph nodes or lymph nodes that suck up part of the lymph, take care of and destroy bacteria, viruses and other things that can be harmful to the body
the spleen
the thymus
other lymphatic tissue, such as the tonsils.
