The lymphatic system is a complex network of thin vessels, valves, ducts, nodes, and organs. It helps to protect and maintain the fluid environment of the body by producing, filtering, and conveying lymph and by producing various blood cells.
Lymph nodes play an important part in the body's defense against infection. The most common cause of swollen lymph nodes is infection, which might occur even if the infection is trivial or not. Afferent lymph vessels bring unfiltered fluids into the lymph node to be filtered while efferent vessels carry clean fluids away from the lymph node and to the cardiovascular system where it helps form the plasma in the blood.
Overall, lymph nodes work like a biological filtering system. When the body is invaded by foreign organisms, the painful swelling sometimes felt in the neck, armpits, groin, or tonsils comes from the microorganisms being trapped inside collections of lymph cells or nodes. Eventually, these organisms are destroyed and eliminated by cells that line the walls of the lymph nodes and the swelling and pain subside.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 05/13/2010
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
tiny vessels
lymph-nodes
Lymph nodes
spleen, tonsils, lymph nodes, heart, thymus,
Lymph Nodes
Anterior and posterior cervical lymph nodes.
Yes there are, they are the submandibular lymph nodes
Yes, pigs have lymph nodes.
inguinal
Lymphatic system, especially in the nodes (lymph glands)
Lymph nodes act as a drainage system. Depending in which part of the body inflamed lymph nodes can mean infection
Some symptoms of problems with the spleen and lymph nodes are itching, fever, chills, and swollen lymph nodes.