The Lymphatic System is part of the body's circulatory system, has its own apparatus constantly cleansing soft tissue and maintaining normal tissue drainage. It removes excess fluid containing, water, proteins, fats and waste products from the tissue spaces.
Once this fluid is taken up by the lymphatic system via a series vessels starting with pre-collectors that lie under the capillary beds, it is known as "lymph" or "lymphatic fluid".
Vessels carry the lymph to nodes that are stationed around the body's tissues and organs, where it is filtered and purified and eventually returned to the heart to become part of the blood volume again.
Many immune reactions occur in the lymph nodes, if pathways become congested, blocked, damaged or severed, or nodes are dissected this can lead to oedema (swelling) and or possible cell pathologies.
