Functions Of The Blood, Lymphatic, and immune system

Functions of the Blood, Lymphatic, and Immune Systems

Homeostasis, or a "steady state," is a continual balancing act of the body systems to provide an internal environment that is comparable with life.

They combine with a third system, the immune, to protect the body against pathogens that could threaten the organism's viability. The blood is responsible for the following:

• Transportation of gases (oxygen O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), chemical substances (hormones, nutrients, salts), and cells that defend the body.
• Regulation of the body's fluid and electrolyte balance, acid-base balance, and body temperature.
• Protection of the body from infection.
• Protection of the body from loss of blood by the action of clotting.

The lymph system is responsible for the following:

• Cleansing the cellular environment
• Returning proteins and tissue fluids to the blood (drainage)
• Providing a pathway for the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins into the bloodstream.
• Defending the body against disease.

The immune system is responsible for the following:

Defending the body against disease via the immune response