Lymfe

Lymfe is a term that appears primarily in Dutch-language medical writing to denote the lymph, the clear fluid that circulates in the lymphatic system. In English, the familiar term is lymph, but lymfe is used in some linguistic and regional contexts to refer to the same fluid or to the lymphatic system more broadly.

In biology, lymfe describes the lymphatic fluid that bathes tissues, escorts immune cells, and helps maintain fluid balance. Lymfe travels through a network of lymphatic vessels and is filtered by lymph nodes and other lymphoid tissues. It carries cells such as lymphocytes and macrophages, as well as proteins, fats, and waste products, between tissues and the bloodstream.

Composition and function: Lymfe is largely water with dissolved electrolytes, proteins, lipids, and cellular components. Its circulation supports immune surveillance by delivering antigens to lymph nodes and facilitating the activation of immune responses. It also helps drain excess interstitial fluid from tissues and absorb dietary fats from the digestive system via specialized lymphatics in the gut.

Clinical relevance: Impairment of lymfe drainage can lead to conditions such as lymphedema. Diagnostic approaches include lymphoscintigraphy and MR lymphangiography to assess lymphatic flow and structure.

Etymology: The word lymfe shares roots with the Greek and Latin terms for water or clear fluid, from which the English term lymph is derived. See also lymph, lymphatic system, and immunology.