When I began my educational journey back in 2008, many subjects and topics fascinated me, but one in particular captured my attention: the LYMPHATIC SYSTEM of the human body. Another topic that intrigued me greatly was ESSENTIAL OILS, which I adore. Obviously, these were not the only areas of interest, and today I want to share with you, dear readers, not only my passion but also the information I have learned. In this article, we will explore together the Lymphatic System, understanding better what it is, its characteristics, and its fundamental role in our well-being. For me, the Lymphatic System is the most important to always keep in mind to stay healthy, both inside and out.

Before diving into the details of the topic, I would like to make a brief introduction by talking about the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM, which includes blood, arteries, veins, and capillaries. Without going too deep into medical and scientific details (this is not the right place), I will try to provide you with some fundamental facts to better understand how the Lymphatic System interacts with the rest of the body.

Blood circulates through a system of vessels called veins and arteries, driven by the rhythmic pumping of the heart. In our body, blood represents about 5% of body weight. This means that, for example, in an 80 kg person, the volume of blood is about 4-5 liters.

Blood is composed of plasma (the liquid part), which is 90% water and contains in the remaining 10% proteins such as albumin, fibrinogen (for blood clotting), antibodies, enzymes, hormones, nutrients like glucose, amino acids, and fats, and waste materials (urea, uric acid), as well as inorganic substances like sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, gases such as CO2 and oxygen. These are the plasma components. Interesting, isn’t it? And think that all these substances and more are found in the “classic” blood tests!

Blood also includes a cellular component, which contains white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Of this part, what interests us most to understand the Lymphatic System are the white blood cells, which play a crucial role in the body’s defense mechanisms by eliminating foreign bodies and microorganisms through the production of antibodies via T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes (which we will discuss soon).

Arteries have thick walls rich in muscle tissue and elastic fibers, while veins form from the merging of capillaries and are equipped with valves, called “swallow’s nest valves,” which prevent blood from flowing backward. Their main function is to return oxygen-poor blood to the heart.

Now we come to the capillaries, the smallest blood vessels, which connect arterioles and venules. They are present in almost all tissues except cartilage, hair, nails, tooth enamel, the cornea, and heart valves. It is precisely at the capillary level that exchanges occur between blood plasma and tissues. Capillaries are abundant in the lipoderma and dermis, where they facilitate the exchange of nutrients and oxygen between blood and cells.

And finally, we come to the protagonist of this article: the Lymphatic System.

THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM – COMPONENTS

The Lymphatic System is composed of: lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, spleen, thymus (which are not aromatic plants, but organs that play an essential role in our immune system), and lymph, which is the protagonist of this article. Lymph is a plasma component of blood and circulates through the lymphatic vessel system.

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

The Lymphatic System performs several fundamental functions:

• Removal of excess fluids from tissues.

• Absorption of fatty acids and transport of fats toward the circulatory system.

• Production of immune cells, such as lymphocytes.

• Production of antibodies at the level of the spleen and thymus.

In summary, immune defense functionality is closely linked to lymphatic flow. Disorders of the Lymphatic System can indeed compromise our ability to defend ourselves from infections.

I conclude this first part with an important reflection: “The immune defense functionality is closely related to lymphatic flow. Disorders of the lymphatic system always impact the body’s defense power.”

In the next article, titled “LYMPH,” we will explore in more detail how the Lymphatic System is structured, how to keep it healthy, and why lymphatic massages are particularly important for maintaining a healthy body and mind.

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