A tissue fluid that enters lymphatic vessel and drains into the venous blood via the thoracic and right lymphatic ducts.
Contains significant numbers of lymphocytes in the thoracic duct lymph.
Lymph is generated from fluid squeezed out of the vasculature, filtered through the tissues and collected in lymphatic ducts.
In the G.I. mucosa of the small intestine this fluid contains chylomicrons, the primary mechanism for transporting long chain fatty acids from digested food, and its presence gives git lymphatic fluid a milky white appearance which can be observed in chylous ascites.
Contains clotting factors.
Clots on standing in vitro.
Contains proteins that cross capillaries and return to the blood.
Protein content lower than that of plasma.
Plasma contains about 7 g/dL of protein and the lymph protein content varies with region with 6.2 g/dL in the liver. 4.4 g/dL in the heart, 4.1 g/dL in the gastrointestinal tract, 4 g/dL in the lung, 2 g/dL in the lung and skeletal muscle and 0 in the choroid plexus and ciliary body.
Lymph in the thoracic duct is white from water insoluble fats absorbed from the intestine into the lymphatics.
Lymphocytes enter the circulation mainly through lymphatic vessels.