> See also: > - [[Cells of the Immune System]] > - [[The Circulatory System]] # The Lymphatic System The lymphatic system is the driving force behind the [[Adaptive Immunity|adaptive immune response]]. It promotes the development of specialized [[Blood Cells|white blood cells]] known as **lymphocytes** (the most notable being T-cells and B-cells) which are capable Diffuse lymphoid tissue refers to arreas of the body where lymphocytes are scattered rather than organized into distinct structures like lymph nodes. > [!abstract]- The Lymphatic System Anatomy > ![[The Lymphatic System Organ Anatomy.png|500]] **Primary:** Sites of lymphocyte maturation and differentiation **Secondary:** Sites where lymphocytes encounter and react to antigens ## Primary Lymphatic Organs - [[Bone Marrow]] - [[The Thymus|Thymus]] ## Secondary Lymphoid Organs | Name | Function | | --- | --- | | [[Lymph Nodes]] | Act as the meeting point of the immune system | | Lymphatic Vessels | tubes n shit | | [[The Spleen\|Spleen]] | Filtration Station | The **Lymphatic Vessels** are the small pipes that connect the different sections of the lymphatics system - Lymph Nodes & Lymphatics - **Spleen:** filters blood and traps particles to be assessed for foreignness by phagocytes and B-cells - Tonsils **Lymph** is a mixture of extracellular fluid and cells carried by the lymphatic system The lymphocytes are capable of "homing" through both the bloodstream and lymph The process of exiting --- [[Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)]]