The lymphatic system.

The lymphatic system is part of the immune system. It helps the body fight infections. It is made of a series of thin tubes, called lymphatic vessels. These vessels collect fluid, called lymph, from different parts of the body. Similar to blood vessels, these vessels then carry the lymph back to the bloodstream. Lymph is a colorless, watery fluid that is rich in white blood cells, called lymphocytes. These cells play an important role in the immune system by protecting your body against infection. They also help protect you from the growth of tumors. Lymphocytes form and are stored in lymph nodes. And nodes are located throughout the body, such as the armpit, groin, and neck area.

Some organs are also part of the lymphatic system. These include the spleen, thymus gland, adenoids, and tonsils, as well as the bone marrow.

The spleen is under the lower-left side of your rib cage. It produces lymphocytes, stores healthy blood cells, and filters out damaged blood cells and bacteria.

The thymus gland is in the front of the chest at the base of the neck. It is central in development of one type of lymphocyte.

Adenoids and tonsils are areas of lymphoid tissue at the back of the throat. They’re one of the first lines of defense against germs that you breathe in or swallow.

Bone marrow is the inner part of bones. It produces red blood cells, blood platelets, and white blood cells.

Info From Georgetown Hospital