Hello! I have been working as a doctor for 22 years. My name is Georgy Olegovich Sapego. In this article I will talk about lymph.
Lymph is part of the lymphatic system. In general, in addition to the liquid lymph itself, the lymphatic system includes various-sized lymphatic vessels, immune cells, lymph nodes and organs such as the spleen and thymus.
Water
In fact, immunity is the last function of the lymphatic system.
Maintaining fluid balance is more important. Lymphatic vessels collect water that dangles between cells and send it into the blood.
Normally, blood flows into our organs and tissues from the arteries, enters the capillaries and then flows into the veins. But at the level of the capillaries, not only different goodies come out of the blood, but also water. This water accumulates between cells. Lymphatic vessels have pores through which excess water is poured into them. It works much like a storm drain.
Small lymphatic vessels collect fluid into larger ones. The largest lymphatic duct connects directly to the subclavian vein at the base of our neck on the left. There the lymphatic system connects to the blood. They merge like two big rivers.
It is probably worth noting here that lymph does not flow from natural openings on our body. And through the sweat glands, the lymph also does not flow. This is not the first time I have met such a bike. You can read about it in my article about deodorants.
So.. if the lymph does not flow away from the tissues, they will swell from excess water. This happens after various surgical operations when the lymphatic vessels or lymph nodes are damaged.
Food
Lymph vessels also transport fat from the intestines. Fat is not absorbed into the bloodstream, but into the lymph. Microscopic fat particles make the lymph white as milk. Therefore, on the intestinal wall, you can clearly distinguish between red blood vessels and white lymphatic vessels.
Germs and ambush in the lymph nodes
Microbes can also penetrate through the pores into which water is poured into the lymphatic vessels. When microbes invade our body, they have to fight with immunity.
But the lymphatic vessels specifically open their doors for infection. Bacteria and viruses do not expect such hospitality and therefore happily rush through the open gate.
In fact, along with the flow of lymph, the infection will be ambushed inside the lymph nodes, where it will be met by specially trained immune cells. They will interrogate guests with passion, find out all their secrets, and then, without hesitation, put them against the wall. This usually ends the infection's journey.
Inside the lymph nodes there is even a special reconnaissance unit of immune cells that collect not the microbes themselves from the lymph, but only their small fragments and traces. This is such a collection of intelligence.
Some microbes do not enter the lymph nodes on their own, but special cells are dragged in by force. They are designed to stuff into their pockets more uninvited guests along with their belongings and equipment. Then these cells self-propelled along the walls of the lymphatic vessels and transfer all this economy to immune cells inside the lymph nodes.
It turns out that our lymph nodes are not just inflamed lumps on the neck, but a whole a multi-level counterintelligence unit that catches saboteurs and knocks out of them information.
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Check out my articles on related topics:
Mesentery
The story of how the lymph nodes in the groin have increased
Inflamed lymph nodes in the neck
