Lymph is deoxygenated compared to blood. This means it carries less oxygen.
Lymph vs. Blood: Oxygen Content
The difference in oxygen content is a key distinction between blood and lymph. Here's a breakdown:
| Feature | Blood | Lymph |
|---|---|---|
| Oxygen Content | Carries more oxygen | Carries less oxygen |
| Nutrients | Carries more digested food and nutrients | Carries less digested food and nutrients |
| Proteins | Contains plasma proteins | Lacks plasma proteins |
As shown in the table derived from the reference, lymph carries less oxygen and digested food compared to blood.
Key Points About Lymph
- Lymph is a fluid that circulates through the lymphatic system.
- It plays a crucial role in the immune system.
- Lymph originates from blood plasma that has passed through capillary walls into the tissue spaces.
- The reduced oxygen content of lymph compared to blood is because much of the oxygen is used by the body tissues before the fluid becomes part of the lymphatic system.
- The primary function of lymph is not to transport oxygen.
- Lymph carries important substances such as proteins and fats, which play an important part in the immune function.
Why Does Lymph Have Less Oxygen?
- Blood carries oxygen from the lungs to tissues in the body.
- Tissues extract oxygen from the blood, and the remaining fluid that becomes lymph contains less oxygen.
- This process means lymph is essentially a waste product after tissue cells have taken oxygen, and therefore it carries less oxygen.
