The Lymphatic System is responsible for draining interstitial fluids, transporting dietary fats, and protecting against invasion. The lymphatic system is also sometimes called the immune system because cells like lymphocytes attack alien pathogens and kill them. The lymphatic system is composed of ducts and lymph nodes. The major organs are the palatine tonsil and the thymus gland. The lymphatic system gets its food and oxygen from all the major blood vesicles some of which are the aorta, hepatic artery, and the abdominal aorta. It dumps the wastes that it collects into the all major veins, including the vena cavas and pulmonary vein.
Lymph nodes are scattered throughout the body so as that they can adequately filter the interstitial fluid. The lymph nodes filter the lymph, and transport the waste through the lymphatic ducts into veins where they can be taken to the excretory system and then evacuated. The major nodes in each region are the axilaries in the arms, the inguinal in the legs, the intestinal and iliac in the abdomino pelvic cavity, and the submandibular in the neck.
The lymphatic vesicles carry the lymph to and from the nodes. Every now and then they empty their contents in the veins of the body. Some of the major ducts are the right and left lymphatic ducts and the thoracic duct.
The tonsils serve the purpose of protecting against "invaders" that are inhaled and/or ingested. The tonsils are just giant lymph nodes. The palatine tonsils are strategically located between the pharangyopalatine and the glossopalatine arches to have easy access to invaders of the body.
The thymus gland is located between the lungs. The gland serves two purposes, to make TCells and to make lymphocytes. The thymus is the place where most of the body's TCells go to mature.
Skeletal System Lymphatic System Integumentary System Cardiovascular System
Muscular System Excretory System Nervous System Respiratory System
Reproductive System Endocrine System Digestive System Credits