Date of Award

2004

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Dr. Gary Radice

Abstract

Water and plasma are forced from the capillaries into the interstitial fluid. This fluid is useful l as it moves materials between cells. Most of this fluid is collected in the capillarie of a second circulatory system, the lymphatic system. The first function of such a system is returning the excess blood plasma, now o as lymph, that has accumulated in the tissue spaces. Lymph flows from small lymph capillaries into lymph vessels that are similar to veins in having valves that prevent back flow. Lymph vessels collect to lymph nodes, lymph organs, or to the cardiovascular system at the thoracic duct and the right lymphatic duct. The lymph nodes are lined with immune cells and therefore the lymphatic system is a huge regulator of pathogens.

Included in

Biology Commons

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