AB2.H2.4 Lymph Nodes - Function
Lymph Nodes - Function:
- The function of lymph nodes is to monitor lymphatic fluid that has drained from tissue spaces and to mount an immune response against any foreign antigens found
- All lymphatic fluid passes through at least one lymph node before it is returned to the blood
- Lymph nodes are not randomly scattered around the body but are (usually) found at defined locations
- Each lymph node, or group of lymph nodes, drains lymphatic fluid from a defmed area of the body
- The lymphatic fluid draining from tissue spaces may carry foreign antigens which trigger an immune response in the lymph node
- The resultant swelling in the lymph node, clinically, can be used as an indicator of the part of the body that an infection is present
- Thus, it is important to understand, and know, the part of the body that lymphatic fluid drains into each group of lymph nodes
- As well as carrying foreign antigens/ whole pathogenic organisms, the lymphatic capillaries and fluid also provide a route through which tumour cells can pass around the body
- Individual tumour cells which break away from a primary tumour and pass through the lymphatic system may settle in a draining lymph node and proliferate to give a secondary tumour
- As with infections, a knowledge of the draining pattern of lymphatic fluid may help in determining the location of tumours
- They can also give an indication of the amount of spread (metastasis) of a tumour and this may have an influence on the treatment offered to individual patients
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