What it means
Lymph vessels collect fluid that leaks out of capillaries and return it to the blood, which keeps tissues from swelling. Along the way, lymph nodes filter it and immune cells attack germs. The system also includes the spleen, thymus, tonsils and bone marrow, and it absorbs fat from the small intestine.
At a glance
| Spanish | sistema linfático |
|---|---|
| Also written | lymphatic systems |
Related terms
lymph node
A small, bean-shaped organ of the immune system that filters lymph fluid and holds white blood cells.
immune system
The body's defense system of cells, tissues and organs that fights germs and other foreign substances.
thymus
A small gland in the upper chest, behind the breastbone, where T cells (a kind of white blood cell) mature.
lymphatic
Relating to lymph, the clear fluid that drains from body tissues, or to the vessels and nodes that carry it.