Lymphatic Ducts

Lymphatic ducts

The lymphatic system is a series of ducts that carry lymph, which consists of large particles and cells of the body's immune system. These are the following ducts:

1. Lymphatic capillaries. Very thin vessels of endothelial tissue, closed at one end, are distributed throughout the body. The lymphatic capillary network is intertwined with the blood capillary network, although its vessels are larger.

2. Lymphatic vessels. Their structure is similar to that of veins, but the walls are thinner. They are formed by a variety of nodes with semilunar valves inside, which open only when they receive a push from the previous node, and therefore prevent the reverse flow of lymph. Lymphatic vessels coming from the intestinal villi flow into a reservoir called Peckett's tank.

3. Lymphatic ducts. Larger diameter lymphatic vessels that return lymph to the circulation. The thoracic duct is the main collector because it receives lymph from three-quarters of the body. The right lymphatic duct is a short channel that collects the remaining quarter of lymph from the right side of the body, located above the diaphragm.