Components of the Immune System: Lymphatic Vessels

A previous article entitled, “Components of the Immune System” discussed several different body parts and their functions in the immune system. This article will discuss the lymphatic vessels and their role in immune health.

The Lymphatic vessels are thin walled structures that carry Lymph. Lymph is critical to the immune system because it carries infection-fighting white blood cells. It is actually blood plasma without the blood cells, and it bathes cells with water and nutrients.

Lymphatic vessels carry lymph to either a primary or secondary lymph system. Primary lymph systems include the thymus gland and bone marrow where the immune cells form. The secondary lymph system is made up of encapsulated and unencapsulated diffuse lymphoid tissue. The encapsulated tissue includes the spleen and the lymph nodes. The unencapsulated tissue includes the gut-associated lymphoid tissues and the tonsils.

The Lymphatic system consists of glands and vessels located throughout the entire human body. This system enables white blood cells to travel to any location and fight infection and disease. Without this system, our immune systems would hardly function.