On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

• Images
• Videos and Tutorials

Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Teenagers
• Patient Handouts

Summary

The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs. It is made up of:

• Lymph - a fluid that contains white blood cells that defend against germs
• Lymph vessels - vessels that carry lymph throughout your body. They are different from blood vessels.
• Lymph nodes - glands found throughout the lymph vessels. Along with your spleen, these nodes are where white blood cells fight infection.

Your bone marrow and thymus produce the cells in lymph. They are part of the system, too.

The lymphatic system clears away infection and keeps your body fluids in balance. If it's not working properly, fluid builds in your tissues and causes swelling, called lymphedema. Other lymphatic system problems can include infections, blockage, and cancer.

Start Here

• Lymphatic System (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Overview of the Lymphatic System (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Lymphoscintigraphy (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Drugs Approved for Multicentric Castleman Disease (National Cancer Institute)

Related Issues

• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• About Lymphatic Filariasis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS) (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
• Castleman Disease (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Mesenteric Lymphadenitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Swollen Lymph Nodes (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• What Is LAM (Lymphangioleiomyomatosis)? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish

Genetics

• Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Histiocytosis-lymphadenopathy plus syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Milroy disease: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Images

• Lymph Nodes (National Cancer Institute)

Videos and Tutorials

• Lymph nodes (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Lymph Nodes (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Lymphatic Diseases (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Imaging and Interventional Management of Lymphatic Disorders.
• Article: Lymphatic Imaging and Intervention in Central Lymphatic Disorders.
• Article: Single-Center Experience With Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Lymphangiography for Diagnosing Lymphatic...
• Lymphatic Diseases -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Introduction to the Lymphatic System (National Cancer Institute)
• Lymphatic System (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

• National Cancer Institute Also in Spanish
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Children

• Chylous Ascites (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Lymphatic Malformations (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

• Spleen and Lymphatic System (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Cancer and lymph nodes (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Cystic hygroma (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Groin lump (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Lymph node biopsy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Lymph system (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Lymphadenitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Lymphangitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Lymphofollicular hyperplasia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Neck lump (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Swollen lymph nodes (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish