What Filters Harmful Substances From Lymph

Lymph nodes

3-minute read

What are lymph nodes?

Lymph nodes (or lymph glands) are small lumps of tissue that contain white claret cells, which fight infection. They are part of the torso'south immune arrangement and filter lymph fluid, which is composed of fluid and waste products from torso tissues. They help fight infections, and besides play an of import role in cancer diagnosis, treatment and the take a chance of recovery or recurrence.

Where are lymph nodes located?

Lymph nodes are located throughout the torso, including the neck, armpits, groin, around the gut, and between the lungs. Lymph nodes drain lymph fluid from nearby organs or areas of the trunk.

How do lymph nodes filter lymph fluid?

Lymph fluid is carried to the lymph nodes by lymphatic vessels. The lymph nodes filter out harmful substances and waste product products. They also contain immune cells called lymphocytes that destroy cancer cells and bacteria.

The filtered fluid is then returned to the blood circulation.

If you have an infection or cancer, a lymph node may go swollen. If you are concerned about your lymph nodes, speak to your physician.

Illustration of the lymphatic system showing lymph nodes throughout the body — Lymph nodes are located throughout the trunk. They drain lymph fluid from nearby organs or areas of the body.

How are lymph nodes and cancer related?

Sometimes cancer can start in the lymph nodes (such as in lymphoma), but some others types of cancer can as well spread from one office of the body to another through lymph nodes.

If a person has cancer, doctors examine lymph nodes carefully to meet whether or not they are affected by cancer. They tin can exercise this past:

feeling all the nodes in the body
getting scans, for instance a CT scan
removing nodes near the cancer, then examining them under a microscope
taking a biopsy of the lymph nodes near the cancer, then examining them under a microscope

This is done to meet if the cancer has spread or not. This helps doctors piece of work out the best handling for the cancer.

Having swollen lymph nodes is only very rarely a sign of cancer. Lymph nodes may be swollen due to infection or inflammation. Swollen lymph nodes may be in the cervix, under the arm or anywhere else there are lymph nodes. They can swell up to several centimetres and may stay bloated for weeks after the infection has cleared up.

Learn more here almost the development and quality balls of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: January 2021