The lymphatic system consists of an interconnected network of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, the thymus gland, and the spleen.

The lymphatic system is a part of the immune system functioning to:

• Circulate lymphatic fluid
• Clean lymphatic fluid
• Return proteins to the blood
• Absorb dietary fats
• Manage interstitial fluid volume
• Protect the body from non-self entities

Figure 1: The lymphatic system.