Functions
The lymphoid system has multiple interrelated functions:
Clinical significance
The study of lymphatic drainage of various organs is important in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cancer. The lymphatic system, because of its physical proximity to many tissues of the body, is responsible for carrying cancerous cells between the various parts of the body in a process called metastasis. The intervening lymph nodes can trap the cancer cells. If they are not successful in destroying the cancer cells the nodes may become sites of secondary tumors.
Organization
The lymphoid system can be broadly divided into the conducting system and the lymphoid tissue.
- it is responsible for the removal of interstitial fluid from tissues
- it absorbs and transports fatty acids and fats as chyle from the digestive system
- it transports white blood cells to and from the lymph nodes into the bones
- The lymph transports antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells, to the lymph nodes where an immune response is stimulated.
Clinical significance
The study of lymphatic drainage of various organs is important in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cancer. The lymphatic system, because of its physical proximity to many tissues of the body, is responsible for carrying cancerous cells between the various parts of the body in a process called metastasis. The intervening lymph nodes can trap the cancer cells. If they are not successful in destroying the cancer cells the nodes may become sites of secondary tumors.
Organization
The lymphoid system can be broadly divided into the conducting system and the lymphoid tissue.
- The conducting system carries the lymph and consists of tubular vessels that include the lymph capillaries, the lymph vessels, and theright and left thoracic ducts.
- The lymphoid tissue is primarily involved in immune responses and consists of lymphocytes[4] and other white blood cells enmeshed in connective tissue through which the lymph passes. Regions of the lymphoid tissue that are densely packed with lymphocytes are known as lymphoid follicles. Lymphoid tissue can either be structurally well organized as lymph nodes or may consist of loosely organized lymphoid follicles known as the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)