Basic Functions and Parts

lymph capillaries

small pipes filled with lymph fluid that run parallel to your blood capillaries and empty into lymph vessels

lymph vessels

empty into lymph nodes

lymph nodes

small encapsulated bodies containing lymphocytes that empty into lymphatic trunks

lymphatic trunks empty into one of these two collecting ducts:

the thoracic and right lymphatic ducts

thoracic ducts

receives lymph fluid from all trunks below and to the left of the heart

right lymphatic ducts

receives lymph fluid from trunks in the upper right quadrant

Spleen

filters, removes, and destroys old RBC

Thymus

where WBC mature in children

Stage 1 Cancer:

cancer has not spread from the origin

Stage 2 Cancer:

cancer has spread to nearby tissues

Stage 3 Cancer:

cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes

Stage 4 Cancer:

cancer has spread to distant locations and is also terminal

Immunodeficiency Disorders

when the immune system doesn’t respond properly to infection

Autoimmune disorder

when the immune system attacks its own tissue

Hypersensitivity reaction

your immune system has a overreactive response to a foreign antigen