Discuss the significance of the extreme permeability of lymphatic capillaries

What will be an ideal response?


The extreme permeability of lymphatic capillaries allows large volumes of fluid to enter from the interstitial space. When pressure in the interstitial fluid decreases, the endothelial cells of the lymphatic capillaries flap shut. In this way, the lymphatic system plays the crucial role of precisely controlling the amount of fluid between our cells. Also, pathogens such as bacteria and cancer cells in the interstitial fluid have an easier time entering the lymphatic capillaries than the blood capillaries due to their extreme permeability. The spread of these pathogens throughout the body can be limited by lymph nodes, which act as filters by trapping pathogens and preventing them from traveling elsewhere.

Anatomy & Physiology

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