01 / Location & anatomical relationships
Branching through many tissues, alongside parts of the circulatory network.
02 / Structure & organization
Blind-ended lymphatic capillaries collect interstitial fluid. Larger collecting vessels contain valves and transport lymph through nodes toward major ducts that drain into veins. Intestinal lacteals also carry absorbed dietary lipids.
03 / Function
They return extra tissue fluid to the bloodstream and support immune defenses.
04 / Mechanism
They collect fluid that has left small blood vessels and remains between cells. One-way valves, muscle movements and breathing help it move along. The fluid eventually returns to the bloodstream near the neck.
Working together: lymphatic & immune systems
Lymph vessels collect extra fluid from tissues. Lymph nodes filter that fluid, and immune cells help recognize and respond to germs.
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Connect structure with function
Lymph movement depends on vessel contraction, muscle activity and breathing-related pressure changes. It is not driven by a dedicated central pump like the heart.
Check your understanding
Locate the lymph vessels in relation to its neighbors. Explain how the structural features described above support its function, then distinguish it from a nearby structure with a different role.
Keep learning
Continue with OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology for system-level study. This atlas is educational and has not undergone independent medical peer review.