Understanding Your Lymphatic System in Grand Rapids, MI

The lymphatic system is a network of delicate vessels and organs that runs throughout your entire body. In Grand Rapids, where we see seasonal infections in the winter and active outdoor lifestyles in the warmer months, a healthy lymphatic system is essential for strong immunity and proper fluid balance.

The lymphatic system:

  • Drains extra fluid (called lymph) that leaks from blood vessels into body tissues
  • Returns that fluid to the bloodstream
  • Helps absorb some of the fats from the intestine
  • Plays a major role in your immune system and your body’s defense against infections and cancer

If you have concerns about your lymphatic health in Grand Rapids, local providers such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health can evaluate symptoms like swelling, frequent infections, or enlarged lymph nodes.

What Does the Lymphatic System Do?

Managing Fluid Levels in the Body

Blood in your arteries is under constant pressure. This pressure helps push:

  • Nutrients
  • Oxygen
  • Fluid
  • Some blood cells

out of the blood vessels and into the surrounding tissues. This is how your tissues get the oxygen and “food” they need.

However, not all of this fluid goes back directly into the bloodstream. Some of it leaks into the tissues, along with:

  • Waste products made by your cells
  • Bacteria that may enter through cuts or breaks in the skin
  • Other cell debris and proteins

Your lymphatic system collects this extra fluid and waste and returns it to the bloodstream. Without this drainage system, your tissues would swell and become painful.

In West Michigan’s colder months, people may be less active and sit more, which can sometimes make fluid buildup in the legs more noticeable. Good lymphatic function helps prevent this from becoming a chronic problem.

Supporting the Immune System

The lymphatic system is a key part of your immune system. It:

  • Reacts to bacteria and viruses
  • Helps identify and destroy cancer cells
  • Clears away dead or damaged cells that could cause disease if they build up

The lymphatic organs and tissues (like lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, tonsils, and Peyer’s patches in the intestine) are packed with lymphocytes—special white blood cells that can recognize and attack harmful invaders.

When you get an infection—such as a sore throat during a Michigan winter—your lymphocytes multiply quickly and produce antibodies to fight the infection. This is why your lymph nodes often swell and feel tender when you’re sick.

Lymphatic Vessels: The “Pipes” of the System

Lymph Capillaries

The smallest lymphatic vessels are called lymph capillaries. They:

  • Sit close to blood capillaries in almost every part of the body
  • Collect the fluid, proteins, and waste products that leak into the tissues

More active areas of the body—like the legs in people who walk or stand a lot—tend to have more lymphatic vessels.

Larger Lymphatic Vessels

Once fluid enters the lymph capillaries, it becomes lymph. It then moves into larger lymphatic vessels that:

  • Have thin muscle in their walls
  • Gently and slowly pulsate to move lymph forward
  • Contain one-way valves to prevent lymph from flowing backward

These vessels eventually carry lymph to the lymph nodes for filtering, and then back into the bloodstream near the shoulders.

Lymph Nodes: Filters That Protect You

Where Lymph Nodes Are Found

You have about 700 lymph nodes throughout your body. They are usually found in chains or groups, embedded in fatty tissue near veins and arteries. Common locations include:

  • Throat and neck
  • Armpits
  • Chest
  • Abdomen
  • Groin

In Grand Rapids, doctors at facilities like Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital or Trinity Health Grand Rapids often check these areas during a physical exam when you have symptoms like sore throat, fever, or unexplained weight loss.

How Lymph Nodes Work

Lymph nodes act as filters:

  • Lymph fluid, carrying bacteria, viruses, and cell debris, flows into the nodes
  • Macrophages (immune cells that act like “garbage trucks”) pick up and present bacteria or abnormal cells
  • Lymphocytes inside the nodes then attack and destroy these invaders

Because more lymphocytes are produced when you have an infection, lymph nodes can:

  • Swell
  • Become tender or sore

Common infections that cause swollen lymph nodes include:

  • Glandular fever (mononucleosis) – often causes very tender neck nodes
  • Tonsillitis – infection of the tonsils in the throat
  • Respiratory infections, which are especially common during Michigan’s cold and flu season

The Spleen: The Largest Lymphatic Organ

The spleen is located in the upper left side of your abdomen, just under the diaphragm.

What the Spleen Does

The spleen:

  • Filters and monitors your blood
  • Contains macrophages that remove bacteria, old cells, and debris
  • Produces and stores various blood cells, including important white blood cells
  • Helps your body respond quickly to infections
  • Destroys old or damaged red blood cells
  • Can help increase blood volume quickly if you lose a lot of blood (for example, after trauma)

In trauma centers in Grand Rapids—such as at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital, a major regional referral center—injuries to the spleen are carefully evaluated because of its important role in blood and immune function.

The Thymus: Training Ground for T-Cells

The thymus is located inside the ribcage, just behind the breastbone (sternum).

Role of the Thymus

The thymus:

  • Produces T-lymphocytes (T-cells)
  • Helps “train” these cells to recognize and respond properly to infections and abnormal cells

T-cells are essential for cell-mediated immunity, which is the branch of the immune system that:

  • Attacks virus-infected cells
  • Helps control some types of cancer cells
  • Coordinates other parts of the immune response

The thymus is most active during childhood and early adulthood, then gradually shrinks, but its earlier work continues to influence your immune system throughout life.

Other Lymphoid Tissue in the Body

Much of your digestive and respiratory system is lined with lymphatic (lymphoid) tissue. This is especially important because these systems are in constant contact with the outside world through:

  • Air you breathe
  • Food and drink you consume

Key Lymphoid Tissues

  • Tonsils (in the throat)
  • Peyer’s patches (in the intestinal wall)
  • Appendix

These tissues:

  • Monitor what comes into the body through the mouth, nose, and gut
  • Help detect and respond to bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances

This lymphatic tissue plays a critical role in defending your body, especially during times when respiratory and gastrointestinal infections are more common—such as winter and early spring in West Michigan.

What Happens When the Lymphatic System Doesn’t Work Properly?

When the lymphatic system cannot drain fluid from the tissues effectively, the tissues swell, becoming:

  • Puffy
  • Heavy
  • Sometimes painful

Oedema vs. Lymphoedema

  • Oedema:

    • Swelling that lasts for a short time
    • Often related to temporary issues like injury, sitting or standing too long, or certain medications

  • Lymphoedema:

    • Swelling that lasts longer than about three months
    • Caused by a problem in the lymphatic system itself

Lymphoedema can affect:

  • An arm or leg
  • Part of the body (such as after breast cancer surgery)
  • Multiple areas, depending on the underlying cause

In Grand Rapids, lymphoedema is often managed through specialized clinics and physical therapy services available at Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, and Metro Health, which may offer:

  • Compression garments
  • Manual lymphatic drainage (specialized massage)
  • Exercise programs
  • Skin care guidance

Primary vs. Secondary Lymphoedema

Primary lymphoedema

  • The lymphatic system has not formed properly
  • May be present at birth
  • Can appear at puberty or later in life
  • Often affects a limb or specific part of the body

Secondary lymphoedema

  • The lymphatic system is damaged or blocked by another condition or treatment, such as:
    • Surgery (for example, lymph node removal for cancer treatment)
    • Radiotherapy
    • Trauma or injury to soft tissues
    • Severe infection
    • Other structural or functional problems with the lymphatic vessels

Cancer treatment centers in Grand Rapids, including those associated with Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion (Corewell Health) and Trinity Health Grand Rapids Cancer Center, commonly monitor patients for secondary lymphoedema after surgery or radiation.

Common Lymphatic System Conditions

Lymphatic system problems can be grouped into three main categories:

1. Infections

These include:

  • Glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis)
    • Symptoms: tiredness, sore throat, swollen and tender lymph nodes, fever
  • Tonsillitis
    • Infection of the tonsils in the throat
    • Common in children and young adults, especially during school months in Kent County
  • Inflammatory bowel disorders (such as Crohn’s disease)
    • Affect the digestive tract
    • Involve immune and lymphatic tissue in the intestines

2. Diseases of the Lymphatic System

These include cancers of the lymphatic system, such as:

  • Hodgkin’s disease (Hodgkin lymphoma)
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

These conditions affect lymphocytes and lymphoid tissues and are usually managed by hematology/oncology specialists. In Grand Rapids, these services are available through major health systems and cancer centers.

3. Structural or Developmental Problems

As noted above, these include:

  • Primary lymphoedema – lymphatic system not formed properly
  • Secondary lymphoedema – lymphatic system damaged by:
    • Surgery
    • Radiotherapy
    • Trauma
    • Severe infection
    • Other structural or functional issues

The Lymphatic System and Life in Grand Rapids

Living in Grand Rapids and West Michigan can influence your lymphatic and immune health:

  • Cold winters:

    • More time indoors and close contact with others
    • Higher rates of colds, flu, and respiratory infections
    • Greater demand on lymph nodes and other immune tissues

  • Seasonal allergies:

    • Pollen in spring and summer can trigger immune responses
    • Lymph nodes may swell as your immune system reacts

  • Active outdoor lifestyles:

    • Hiking, biking, and water activities on the Grand River and nearby lakes may increase minor injuries or skin cuts, which the lymphatic system helps protect against by removing bacteria

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle—regular exercise, balanced diet, good sleep, and staying up to date with vaccinations—supports both your immune and lymphatic systems.

When to See a Doctor in Grand Rapids About Your Lymphatic System

Contact a healthcare provider if you notice:

  • Persistent swelling of an arm, leg, or other body part
  • Swollen lymph nodes that are:
    • Enlarged for more than 2–4 weeks
    • Hard, fixed, or painless
    • Accompanied by fever, night sweats, or unexplained weight loss
  • Recurrent infections
  • Ongoing fatigue and sore throat
  • Any swelling after cancer surgery or radiation treatment

Local Resources

If you live in Grand Rapids or Kent County, you can seek help from:

  • Your primary care provider or family doctor
  • Corewell Health (Spectrum Health) clinics and hospitals
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
  • Mercy Health locations
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health for community health information and referrals

Key Points About the Lymphatic System

  • The lymphatic system drains excess fluid, returns it to the bloodstream, and helps maintain fluid balance.
  • It absorbs some fats from the intestine as part of digestion.
  • Lymphatic tissues in the respiratory and digestive systems are essential because these systems are exposed to the external environment.
  • The lymphatic system plays a central role in defending the body against infections, cancer cells, and harmful cell products.
  • Problems with the lymphatic system can lead to swelling (oedema or lymphoedema), infections, and certain cancers such as Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
  • If you’re in Grand Rapids and have concerns about swelling, frequent infections, or enlarged lymph nodes, local healthcare providers and public health resources are available to help.