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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Lymph
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INFOTEXT
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1992-09-03
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The fluid found in the lymphatic system of
vertebrates, which carries nutrients, oxygen,
and white blood cells to the tissues, and
waste matter away from them. It exudes from
capillaries into the tissue spaces between
the cells and is made up of blood plasma,
plus white cells. Lymph is drained from the
tissues by lymph capillaries, which empty
into larger lymph vessels (lymphatics). These
lead to lymph nodes (small, round bodies
chiefly situated in the neck, armpit, groin,
thorax, and abdomen), which process the
lymphocytes produced by the bone marrow, and
filter out harmful substances and bacteria.
From the lymph nodes, vessels carry the lymph
to the thoracic duct and the right lymphatic
duct, which lead into the large veins in the
neck. Some vertebrates, such as amphibians,
have a lymph heart, which pumps lymph through
the lymph vessels.