Lymphatic system (English)

The lymphatic system is formed from a network of lymphatic vessels, lymphoid tissues and lymphoid organs. The two main lymphatic collecting vessels are the right lymphatic duct and the thoracic duct. The right lymphatic duct drains lymph from the right arm and the right side of the head and thorax, while the thoracic duct drains the rest of the body and houses the cisterna chyli. Lymph nodes are scattered throughout the body, the most important ones to learn are the cervical, axillary and inguinal nodes. Lastly we have the lymphoid organs, namely the spleen, thymus, peyer’s patches (aggregated lymphoid nodules) and the tonsils (palatine, pharyngeal, lingual and tubal). Collectively the tonsils, peyer’s patches and the appendix are referred to as MALT; the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue.