What is the role of a lymph node?

They are found throughout the body but are more concentrated near and within the torso. Typically they are found concentrated near junctions of the major lymphatic vessels, in areas such as the neck, groin and armpits.

Part of the lymphatic system, the lymph nodes serve as filters for the blood, providing specialised tissues where foreign bodies can be trapped and exposed to cells of the immune system for destruction.

This image shows a number of immune cell types within a lymph node. The green cells are T lymphocytes, one of the most important immune cell types that protect us from viral infections such as COVID-19. The red cells are helper T lymphocytes, that form part of the adaptive immune system and assist the T lymphocytes. The blue cells are the nucleus of cells that are undergoing cell division.

At Centenary, we research lymph nodes and other mechanisms to better understand our immune system.

Learn more about our areas of research.