A normal and well-functioning lymphatic system will transport the amount of lymphatic fluid produced by the body at any given time. The typical amount of lymphatic fluid that is required to be transported from the periphery back to the circulatory system is well below the maximum capabilities of the lymphatic system. When some form of injury is sustained and lymphatic fluid increases, for a short time the lymphatic system can be overcome by the volume of fluid that requires transport. This results in swelling. In some disease processes, such as congestive heart failure, the base amount of lymphatic fluid produced is increased above the transport capacity of the lymphatic system which results in chronic swelling. In other cases, the lymphatic system may be diseased since birth, or have been injured and unable to repair itself, which reduces the maximum transport capabilities of the lymphatic system. These impairments will lead to an overload of lymphatic fluid as well, though it is of a different nature than other forms of swelling. Due to the nature of this fluid, it begins a cyclical process that continually increases the amount of fluid that is demanding transport back to the circulatory system. This type of edema continually increases, and so does the size of the body that is affected by it. Any kind of chronic edema can lead to wounds and infections, as well as the side effects that these may cause.

The components of the Lymphatic system consist of lymphatic collectors, vessels and ducts, lymph nodes, peyer’s patches, tonsils, adenoids, spleen, thymus and the appendix. All of these have some impact on the lymphatic system, and the production of lymph fluid, which in itself may also be considered a part of lymphatic anatomy. Lymphatic collectors, vessels and ducts are responsible for the collection of lymph fluid into the vascular system that is responsible for transporting it back into the circulatory system.The lymph nodes process and filter lymph fluid. The spleen is responsible for filtering and storing blood and creating white blood cells. The Thymus is responsible for the maturation process of certain types of white blood cells. The tonsils and Adenoids are responsible for defense against harmful pathogens received through the oral and nasal passages. Peyer’s patches are responsible for eliminating harmful bacteria in the small intestine. And lastly, the appendix is responsible for mediating the destruction of bacteria in the intestine, though its full purpose is not believed to be completely understood at this time.