About Blood/Lymphatic System

Blood, the body’s fluid transportation system, is pumped by the heart through a network of arteries, veins, and capillaries. Blood is a mixture of red and white blood cells and platelets within liquid plasma that brings nutrition and oxygen to cells, carries infection-fighting cells throughout the body, flushes away waste, and clots at the site of injury to stop bleeding. Blood disorders and diseases can have many serious impacts, such as the inadequate oxygen delivery caused by anemia or the clotting problems hemophilia causes. Some types of cancer, such as leukemia and myeloma, primarily affect blood. Similar to blood, lymph is a fluid that carries cells throughout the body. The lymphatic system is a major part of the immune system; lymph carries disease-fighting antibodies and lymph nodes filter out foreign cells. When battling an infection, lymph nodes can become painful and swollen, or even clogged.  By studying these two systems, researchers hope to unlock new treatments and prevention approaches for a range of diseases.

CURRENT STUDIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU



RELATED RESEARCH AREAS:
  Hemophilia, Lymphedema, Anemia, Leukemia, Other Blood/Lymphatic System, Sickle Cell Anemia