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The Lymphatic System - A Lay Person's Perspective

© Linda Bily

The lymphatic system is part of the body's circulation process. It is a one-way trip, however. All the waste products and fluids are carried toward the heart, away from the tissues where the waste formed. At the heart the lymph fluid joins the blood. The lymphatic vessels carry only 10% of the body's fluids. They are small capillaries between the cells. This area is known as the interstial tissue. When the fluid enters the lymph vessels it is called lymph. This is a mixture of bacteria, protein, other waste products and water.

The lymph nodes are tiny areas along the lymphatic vessels that filter the lymph fluid. There are estimated to be between 500 and 1500 lymph nodes throughout your body. Most of them are in the axilla (underarm), groin, neck and mammary glands. When the lymph fluid is cleansed, it is ready to mingle with the blood. The other important job of the lymph nodes is to create lymphocytes, which are white blood cells which help avoid or overcome infection. Think of the lymph nodes as the drains within your body's plumbing system.

The body's lymphatic system is divided into four areas, or quadrants. The area where the lymph fluid goes from one area of the body is known as the watershed. There is a vertical wateshed running up and down your body from neck to groin area, two going horizontally across your neck/upper chest and across lower abdomen/groin area and the fourth watershed on your back from head to neck.

Some lymphatic vessels cross the great divide, so to speak, but most drain lymph fluid within their own quadrant.

When lymph nodes are removed, due to surgery, or are damaged, due to radiation or trauma, it is like losing some of the drainage points in your house's plumbing system. Think of it as the drain clogging in the kitchen sink - all the gunk that gets through the drain gets trapped in the pipes and you have a sluggish sink. Your lymphatic system is similar - the lymph fluid gets trapped between the tissues, builds up to the degree where your lymphatic system can't handle the overload and that's when lymphedema can occur.

I know that doctors downplay lymphedema (LE) and many cases go undiagnosed by the medical professionals and ignored by the patient, for lack of knowledge on the subject. Lymphedema is a chronic, serious condition, that, fortunately, can be helped with the proper type of treatment. If you have had any type of breast surgery, radiation, trauma or infection, you owe it to yourself to recognize the symptoms of LE and to be your own patient advocate.