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What is the lymphatic system?
Although there is
50 per cent more lymphatic fluid in your body than blood,
many people do not understand what the lymphatic system is.
The lymphatic system is a network of thin tubes (lymph
vessels) that carry a clear fluid called lymph. The system
includes the lymphatic tissue that lymph travels through.
You may have heard of lymph nodes which are small
concentrated areas of lymphatic tissue. The system also
includes the structures which produce and circulate
lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) including the
spleen, thymus, bone marrow and the digestive system.
The breasts of a 65 yr old before and after 5 treatments
The
breasts of a 38 yr before and after 2 treatments
Lymph is not pumped through the body like blood; it is moved
by the contractions of muscles and the motion of breathing.
The lymphatic system does several vital jobs in the body:
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Draining fluid |
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As the blood circulates, fluid leaks out into the
body tissues. This fluid is important because it
carries food to the cells and waste products back to
the bloodstream. The leaked fluid drains into the
lymph vessels. It is carried through the lymph
vessels to the base of the neck where it is emptied
back into the bloodstream. This circulation of fluid
through the body is going on all the time. |
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Filtering lymph |
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The lymph nodes filter the lymph as it passes
through. White blood cells attack any bacteria or
viruses they find in the lymph as it flows through
the lymph nodes. |
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Filtering blood |
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This is the job of the spleen. It filters blood to
take out all the old worn out red blood cells and
then destroys them. They are replaced by new red
blood cells that have been made in the bone marrow.
The spleen also filters out bacteria, viruses and
other foreign particles found in the blood. White
blood cells in the spleen attack bacteria and
viruses as they pass through. |
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Fighting infection |
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You will have noticed that when you are unwell, your
‘glands are up’: these are swollen lymph nodes
fighting an infection. The lymphatic system combats
infection in many ways including making special
white blood cells that produce antibodies and in the
destruction of foreign particles, for example germs,
within the lymph nodes.
So you can see that it is important that the lymph
fluid moves freely so it can properly perform these
important nutrient-giving, infection-fighting and
waste-disposal tasks. Electro Lymphatic Therapy
helps to keep lymph flowing freely by reducing
lymphatic congestion. |
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