What are the lymph nodes

Written By The HealthMeth Team - Updated On Monday, February 22, 2021 5:00 PM

Lymphatic system

The lymphatic system is one of the body's systems, which consists of a network responsible for draining body fluids to maintain its balance, and it is responsible for fighting infection that may affect the body. It consists of the lymphatic system of the spleen , and blood lymphocytes , and lymph nodes distributed along the lymphatic vessels deployed in the body, and applies within the lymphatic system is similar transparent liquid water is made up of proteins , salts , glucose , urea, and other substances, and it is called Lymph Fluid. [1]


Lymph nodes and their structure

Lymph nodes - also called lymph nodes - consist of small nodes and glands that are distributed throughout the body in the form of clusters. There are about 600 lymph glands distributed throughout the lymph vessels in the body. The lymph nodes consist of two parts; The first is the region of the cortex, which contains groups of lymphocytes, and is made up mainly of B-lymphocytes that fully mature in the bone marrow., and some T-lymphocytes (T-lymphocytes) that continue to mature outside the bone marrow, and the medulla is the second part of the parts of the lymph glands. In addition to what was previously mentioned, it is important to know that the lymph nodes also contain a group of macrophages, and the lymph glands are also surrounded by an envelope that consists of connective tissue . [2] [3]


Lymph gland function

The process of filtering the lymph fluid from the organs of the body surrounding the lymph glands, removing harmful substances and residues from it, and then returning it to the blood is one of the most important functions of the lymph glands, and these lymph glands activate the immune system when the body is infected with an infection. When the lymph fluid enters these lymph glands, the white blood cells present in the glands attack the foreign bodies carried in the lymph fluid, such as bacteria, and then the filtered fluid is returned to the bloodstream, and thus removing the bacteria from the bloodstream will be accomplished. These lymph nodes are distributed in different areas of the body, examples of where they are located are the neck region, the armpits, the groin area at the thigh, and betweenThe lungs , and around the digestive tract . For example; The lymph nodes in the Elbow region and the armpits filter the lymph fluid coming from the hand, fingers, and the arm, and the lymph nodes located behind the knee and in the inguinal region filter the lymph fluid coming from the thigh, the foot, and the toes, while the incoming lymph fluid From the face, head, and scalp , it is filtered into the lymph nodes located behind the head, behind the ears, and on both sides of the neck. [4] [2] [1]


Swollen and swollen lymph glands

The lymph nodes may swell and enlarge, as they increase in size to become the size of a bean or larger than that, and they also become painful. Its swelling and enlargement indicates the presence of something abnormal somewhere in the body, and the symptoms depend in detail on the cause that led to its swelling, and the location of the bulge may help to diagnose and know the cause of the swelling. [3] Among the reasons that may lead to swelling and enlargement of the lymph glands are the following:

  • Infection: is the infection causes one of the most common swollen lymph glands, especially viral infection. Among the viral infections that cause swollen lymph nodes, common cold , streptococcal sore throat, measles, ear infections, and dental infections and abscesses , Skin and wound infections such as Cellulitis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus that causes AIDS, and Mononucleosis, which is one of the types of viral infections that are transmitted Through saliva and causes a rise in temperatureFever, sore throat, and swollen spleen. Examples of uncommon infections that also cause swollen lymph nodes include tuberculosis , and some types of sexually transmitted infections and Toxoplasmosis. Transmitted through infected cat litter. [5] [3]
  • Cancer is cancer One of the cases that may cause swelling of the lymph glands and inflation, where it can be the origin of the cancer part of the lymphatic system itself, and then called lymphoma or lymph nodes cancer , as can happen Cancer in the tissues that make up the blood, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system, and it is called leukemia , and the cancer may move from other places in the body to the lymph nodes, and this process is called metastasis or migration of cancer cells . [3]
  • System disorders immune: are considered some disorders of the immune system One of the reasons that could lead to the swelling of lymph glands, such as disease , arthritis , rheumatoid , which affects the tissue lining of the joints, and lupus , which may target multiple parts of the body such as the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and lungs (Lungs). [3]


References

  1. ^ A b "Spleen And Lymphatic the System" , Www.kidshealth.org , Retrieved 2017-11-06. Edited
  2. ^ A b Ananya Mandal (2012-06-27), " , Structure And Function Of the lymph Nodes" , www.news-medical.net The , Retrieved 2017-11-07. Edited
  3. ^ A b t w c Mayo , Clinic Staff (2016-10-26), "Swollen the lymph Nodes" , Www.mayoclinic.org , Retrieved 2017-11-07. Edited
  4. "Lymph nodes" , www.healthdirect.gov.au , 2017-02, Retrieved November 6, 2017. Edited
  5. "Infectious Mononucleosis" , www.medlineplus.gov , Retrieved 2017-11-07. Edited