Lymph have thinner walls and are larger in diameter.

Lymph nodes, thymus, spleen

Activate other cells; Help B cells produce antibodies

IgG: Defens against bacteria, viruses, and toxins; activates complement

Lymph starts its life as plasma, the watery component that makes up over half our blood volume

Blood Plasma turns into tissue fluid when it leaves a blood capillary to deliver O2

-Are centers for lymphocyte production
-filter pathogens from lympth (remove .99% of pathogens)
-Immune surveillance: monitors body fluids via macrophages and lymphocytes

Attack virally-infected or cancer cells

IgA: Defends against bacteria and viruses

There are between 400-800 lymph nodes in the body that constantly monitor and filter the lymph to remove toxins, waste and pathogens

Tissue Fluid becomes lymph when it enters the lymphatic capillary (Tissue fluid = blood plasma - plasma proteins)

-Site of T-Cell production
-Thymosins hormone produced; stimulate T cell maturation

Provide future immune protection; act as stem cells for producing cytotoxic T cells in the future
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IgM: Reacts with antigens on some red Blood Cell Membranes following mismatched blood transfusions; activtaes complements

Swelling of the lymph nodes (or ‘glands’) in the neck are an indication that the body is in the throes of fighting an infection

Lymph is just Tissue fluid that had entered the lympthatic capillary, but they are chemically identical

-Removes abnormal blood cells from the blood (ruptured RBCs and other BCs)
-Stores Fe from recycled RBCs
-Initiates the immune response by B-Cells and T-Cells, when there are pathogens circulating in the blood
-Stores excess RBCs
-Lymphocyte production
-RBC breakdown (which is also accomplished by the liver)

Active immunity: permanent immunity obtained via antigen contact; immune response is evoked, and memory B cells are produced

IgD: B Cell activation

Far from being a ‘useless, dead-end tube’, the appendix has recently been discovered to be part of the lymphatic system

Drain Lymph from Ducts

-Helper T cells
-Cytotoxic T cells
-Memory T cells

Passive immunity: temporary immunity obtained via antibodies; no antigen exposure; no immune response is evoked by person's immune system

IgE: Promotes inflammation and allergic responses

It is considered the most important body system in Ayurvedic medicine, which considers it to be the ‘water of life’