Lymph and lymph nodes

Main article: Human body

Fluid exchange occurs between blood and tissue. Lymph is the filtrate (liquid) that has filtered out ("exited") from the blood into the tissue and that contains white blood cells and antigen presenting cells.

Lymph returns to the blood vessels, but with it takes the metabolic products of cells and tissues - proteins, carbohydrates, fats and excess fluid that tissues do not need, skin but which can be useful to other organs and tissues.

With lymphoma, the metabolic products of cells and tissues, as well as lymphocytes flow into the lymph nodes - by this mechanism, lymphocytes that provide an immune response and metabolic products are returned to the blood for further use by the body (reutilization).

Lymph nodes

Lymph vessels collect lymph from organs and tissues. Lymph vessels flow into the lymph nodes.

Lymph nodes are collectors ("collectors") of lymph, the place where lymph vessels flow from a certain part of the body.

Lymph nodes are spread throughout the body. They can be found along large blood vessels, where they gather in groups: axillary, inguinal, cervical, popliteal, ulnar, lymph nodes that collect lymph from internal organs - etc.

From the lymph nodes, even larger lymph vessels begin, which flow into even larger vessels and gather into even larger lymph nodes. Ultimately, they all flow into the cervical veins.

Diseases

Tumor cells

It is the lymph nodes that first occur in the path of tumor cells when they begin to spread further than the affected organ.

Therefore, sometimes to melanoma they resort to removing not only the primary tumor, skin but also the lymph nodes.

Treatment technologies

2023: Developed nanotechnology for lymphatic vessels. It establishes the drainage of fluid in the body

In mid-March 2023, American specialists from the Georgia Institute of Technology announced the development of a nanotechnology solution for the treatment of lymphedema. The new method could help a host of patients around the world. Read more here.