lymph nodes
Lymph nodes. They are nodular structures that are part of the lymphatic system and form cluster-shaped groupings. They are an important part of the immune system, as they help the body recognize and fight germs, infections, and other foreign substances.
Summary
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- 1 Location
- 2 Function
- 3 Considerations
- 4 External links
Location
Common areas where lymph nodes can be felt (with fingers) include the groin, armpit, neck (there is a chain of lymph nodes on each side of the front of the neck, on both sides of the neck and under each side of the back of the neck), under the jaw and chin, behind the ears, and over the back of the head.
Function
The lymph nodes act as filters, having an internal structure of fine connective tissue, in the form of a network, filled with lymphocytes that collect and destroy bacteria and viruses, so the lymph nodes are also part of the immune system.
The lymph reaches it through afferent vessels, they empty the lymph, it is filtered into the node and the humoral or cellular immune response is formed upon contact with the active immune components. Once the lymph is filtered, it exits through the efferent lymphatic vessel, spreads the immune response and reaches the blood .
Considerations
Lymph nodes can become swollen due to infection, inflammatory conditions, an abscess, or cancer . Other causes of enlarged lymph nodes are rare.
Infection is by far the most common cause of this problem. When sudden, painful swelling occurs, the cause is usually an injury or infection, but if the enlargement is gradual and painless, it may be the result in some cases of cancer or tumor.
