The lymphatic drainage system is a network of lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes (‘glands’) which drains clear, colourless lymph fluid (similar to the fluid in a blister) from your tissues. These lymph vessels run alongside the blood circulatory system.
The lymphatic vessels transport fluid to lymph nodes. After being filtered through one or more groups of lymph nodes, the fluid finally drains into a large vein close to the heart. The blood pumped from your heart to your tissues via your arteries which contains nutrients, oxygen, proteins, water and many other products needed to maintain the health of the different tissues in your body.
Your body tissues use what it requires, and the excess, along with any waste products is drained away from your tissue by two different systems. The first in the venous system, which is part of your circulatory system, and the second is the lymphatic system. The circulatory system-the arteries and veins, continuously circulates blood through each part of the body while the lymphatic systems main function is to drain and transport waste products and excess fluid away from each part, along its own system of vessels, before eventually joining the blood (circulatory) system close to the heart at the thoracic duct.
There are different parts of the lymphatic system. The superficial part of the lymph system drains and transports lymphatic fluid from the skin and subcutaneous areas which is where most lymphoedema occurs.
The lymphatic system is a network of lymph nodes, lymph ducts, and lymph vessels that are responsible for drainage and transport of lymph fluid from body tissues back into the bloodstream. Through this path of drainage, the fluid is filtered and processed before being returned back to the bloodstream/circulatory system. The lymphatic system – lymph organs include lymph nodes (lymph glands) that play a vital role in immune response.
