230 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 



the lymph spaces, which are still more crowded by the lymph with 

 its corpuscles held back in the hardened tissues. If the invading 

 microorganisms which have set up all the trouble are not too 

 numerous, the phagocytes aided by opsonins will dispose of them. 

 Then they and the entire accumulation in the tissues remnants of 

 cells and bacteria, fluids, etc., will be removed by way of the regu- 

 lar lymph channels as the swelling subsides. 



Clinical note. The nurse becomes very familiar with the treatment of 

 this condition of induration; for example by the use of hot douches to 

 assist the removal of a pelvic "exudate" by improving the circulation in 

 the region and in this way favoring absorption. (A pelvic exudate is usually 

 situated in the broad ligaments of the uterus.) 



SUMMARY OF FUNCTIONS OF THE LYMPH SYSTEM 



By the lymph, to present to the tissues their proper nutriment 

 and to receive the waste products of their metabolism. 



By the lymph spaces, to transmit the nutritive fluid from the 

 blood to the tissues, and waste matters from the tissues to the blood. 



By lymph capillaries and vessels, to convey lymph to the blood 

 in the large veins. 



By lymph nodes or glands, to give origin to lymphocytes, and to 

 filter out and retain poisonous or injurious substances from the 

 lymph stream. 



