What happens if lymphatic system fails

The fluids carry toxins, immune cells, and waste products to your lymph nodes. Lymph vessels help maintain fluid balance in the body by returning filtered lymph fluid back to the bloodstream. A poorly working lymphatic system causes tissues to become swollen with fluid. This is called lymphedema. It commonly results in swelling in your arms or legs. Other parts of the body can be affected, too. You can be born with a lymphatic problem that causes lymphedema.

This is called hereditary or primary lymphedema. It can also result from a variety of complex genetic conditions. You can also develop lymphedema from a disease complication or injury.

This is called secondary lymphedema. Lymphatic dysfunction is a chronic condition for most people, but treatments are available to limit its progression. Hereditary lymphedema is also known as primary lymphedema. Meige disease is the most common form of hereditary lymphedema, accounting for 80 percent of all cases. It also causes yellow nails in some people. Another type of hereditary lymphedema is known as Milroy disease. It can cause the structures that make up your lymphatic system to form incorrectly.

Treatment for breast cancer with a mastectomy is one of the most common causes of secondary lymphedema. Fluids draining from the arm must pass through the armpit. If lymph nodes are removed from this area, lymphatic dysfunction and swelling in the arm can occur.

Cancer and radiation therapy can also cause lymphedema to develop. Tumors and scar tissue from radiation and surgery can lead to damage and injury to the lymphatic system. Lymphedema can also occur after treating cancers of the head and neck. It can lead to swelling of the face, eyes, neck, and lips.

The main sign of lymphatic dysfunction is lymphedema. Lymphedema causes swelling in your arms or legs. Your fingers or toes may retain fluid and swell. The tissues of the head and neck may be affected, too. The swelling can limit your range of motion. You may experience heaviness or a dull ache in the affected area.

Lymphedema can also lead to:. In the head and neck, lymphedema can affect vision and cause ear pain and nasal congestion. It can also cause problems with:.

People with congenital lymphatic dysfunction may show symptoms in early childhood. It can also occur with the onset of puberty or in adulthood, even beyond age Symptoms of secondary lymphedema can appear any time after surgery.

Most symptoms will appear within several months to a few years after surgery. However, it can also be significantly delayed. Certain infections may occur along with lymphedema, such as cellulitis or lymphangitis. Cellulitis is a type of bacterial skin infection. Our bodies consist of a number of biological systems that carry out an array of necessary, every-day functions. Unfortunately, the lymphatic system is often overlooked. If you feel tired and congested or notice unusual swelling in your face and body, your lymphatic system might not be draining or function properly.

Cart 0. It consists of: lymphatic vessels, which are similar to the circulatory system's veins and capillaries. Guest User April 18, Guest User May 19, Guest User March 23, Its other major role is to filter the blood to remove microbes and old and damaged red blood cells and platelets.

The thymus gland is a lymphatic organ and an endocrine gland that is found just behind the sternum. It secretes hormones and is crucial in the production, maturation, and differentiation of immune T cells. Bone marrow is not lymphatic tissue, but it can be considered part of the lymphatic system because it is here that the B cell lymphocytes of the immune system mature.

During gestation, the liver of a fetus is regarded as part of the lymphatic system as it plays a role in lymphocyte development. Explore the model using your mouse pad or touchscreen to understand more about the lymphatic system. The lymph system has three main functions. The lymphatic system helps maintain fluid balance.

It returns excess fluid and proteins from the tissues that cannot be returned through the blood vessels. The fluid is found in tissue spaces and cavities, in the tiny spaces surrounding cells, known as the interstitial spaces.

These are reached by the smallest blood and lymph capillaries. Around 90 percent of the plasma that reaches tissues from the arterial blood capillaries is returned by the venous capillaries and back along veins. The remaining 10 percent is drained back by the lymphatics. Each day, around liters is returned. This fluid includes proteins that are too large to be transported via the blood vessels.

Loss of the lymphatic system would be fatal within a day. Without the lymphatic system draining excess fluid, our tissues would swell, blood volume would be lost and pressure would increase. Most of the fats absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract are taken up in a part of the gut membrane in the small intestine that is specially adapted by the lymphatic system.

The lymphatic system has tiny lacteals in this part of the intestine that form part of the villi. These finger-like protruding structures are produced by the tiny folds in the absorptive surface of the gut.

Lacteals absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins to form a milky white fluid called chyle. This fluid contains lymph and emulsified fats, or free fatty acids. It delivers nutrients indirectly when it reaches the venous blood circulation.

Blood capillaries take up other nutrients directly. The third function is to defend the body against unwanted organisms. Without it, we would die very soon from an infection. Our bodies are constantly exposed to potentially hazardous micro-organisms, such as infections. However, pathogens often do succeed in entering the body despite these defenses. In this case, the lymphatic system enables our immune system to respond appropriately. If the immune system is not able to fight off these micro-organisms, or pathogens, they can be harmful and even fatal.

A number of different immune cells and special molecules work together to fight off the unwanted pathogens. The lymphatic system produces white blood cells, known as lymphocytes. There are two types of lymphocyte, T cells and B cells.

They both travel through the lymphatic system. As they reach the lymph nodes, they are filtered and become activated by contact with viruses, bacteria, foreign particles, and so on in the lymph fluid. From this stage, the pathogens, or invaders, are known as antigens.

As the lymphocytes become activated, they form antibodies and start to defend the body. They can also produce antibodies from memory if they have already encountered the specific pathogen in the past. Collections of lymph nodes are concentrated in the neck, armpits, and groin. It is in the lymph nodes that the lymphocytes first encounter the pathogens, communicate with each other, and set off their defensive response. Activated lymphocytes then pass further up the lymphatic system so that they can reach the bloodstream.