Question

What is lymph? How is the composition of lymph different from blood plasma?

Answer 1

Lymph is a fluid that is colorless. It is an additional interstitial fluid which is drained out of major veins. Both blood cells are found in one fluid, while the other fluid contains only one blood cell, mostly lymphocytes.

Complete step by step answer:
Lymph, which is alkaline in nature, is a clear and transparent interstitial body fluid found between the interstitial spaces of the body. Lymph is a substance that is colorless and circulates in the lymphatic system. And then, it reaches through the lymph vessels into the lymph nodes.
The lymph provides a relatively small amount of nutrients and oxygen relative to tissue fluid, but contains sufficient carbon dioxide and other metabolic waste. Lymph has white blood cells majorly the lymphocytes.
55 percent of the overall blood volume is plasma. It is particularly rich in proteins (including its main protein albumin), immunoglobulins, clotting factors, and fibrinogen. It is composed of 90 percent water, salts, lipids, and hormones.
Lymph only consists of white blood cells, proteins, salts, glucose, fats, and water, while blood consists of RBCs, WBCs, platelets, and other compounds such as glucose, amino acids, etc.
Unlike your blood, red blood cells are not usually present in lymph. The composition of the lymph varies a lot, depending on where it originates in your body.
Lymph functions are indicated below:
- In the immune system, lymph plays a significant function.
- It bears digested fat
- It helps in the disposal of excess fluid

Note: The fluid that escapes from blood capillaries and goes to the intercellular spaces in the tissues produces lymph. This fluid is absorbed and gradually returns to the blood capillaries via lymph vessels. A fluid connective tissue that is involved in transport is lymph. The lymph also incorporates protein and fat containing fluid from the intestine. It is called tissue fluid, too.