Hundreds of bean-shaped stations along lymph vessels where immune cells inspect fluid for invaders.
Swollen glands
Nodes often swell while fighting an infection, then shrink again.
When to get help
Nodes that are hard, fixed, growing, or swollen for more than a few weeks should be checked.
Evidence & sources
The lymphatic system returns fluid to the blood and helps the body fight infection. Evidence: established. Known: Foundational physiology. Unknown: — Source: US National Cancer Institute, NCI Dictionary: lymphatic system (Current revision).