Reactive Lymph Nodes

reactive are found for the activation of the immune system in response to various paraphysiological or pathological conditions.

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When this phenomenon occurs, the patient generally experiences lymphadenopathy (generalized or local increase in volume) and tenderness, especially on palpation.

The causes of reactive lymph nodes are mainly inflammatory or infectious, but this manifestation can also signal the presence of neoplastic cells.

, also called lymphatic glands or lymphoglands, are small peripheral organs, oval or rounded, which participate in the defense of our organism.

The lymph nodes are scattered along the course of the lymphatic vessels, in specific points of the body (neck, armpits, groin, etc.), where, at times, they can be perceived to the touch. This particular distribution allows them to behave like "sentinels", who have been assigned a specific body district to guard. More in detail, the lymph nodes are located at the level of the lymphatic collectors, or areas of the lymphatic system that carry out a "drainage action of liquids from the tissues.

Thanks to this filtering activity, the lymph nodes can detect the presence of external agents (such as bacteria, viruses or fungi), but also internal elements of our organism, such as cancer cells. When this happens, they increase in volume (lymphadenopathy), as there is a proliferation of immune response cells within them, often it is this swelling of the lymph nodes that prompts people to seek medical attention.