The lymphatic system and blood vascular system together form the circulatory infrastructure of the body: lymphatic vessels drain excess interstitial fluid back into the venous circulation, transport absorbed fats, and connect to lymph nodes, thymus, and spleen as components of immunological defense. Blood vessels form a continuous circuit—arteries branching into arterioles (the primary site of vascular resistance), then capillaries (the site of gas, nutrient, and waste exchange), then venules and veins returning blood to the heart—with anastomoses between vessels providing redundant collateral pathways that maintain perfusion if a vessel becomes occluded. These principles constitute foundational concepts of vascular and lymphatic anatomy within the cardiovascular system.
The lymphatic system and blood vascular system together form the circulatory infrastructure of the body: lymphatic vessels drain excess interstitial fluid back into the venous circulation, transport …