THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM AS A KEY MORPHOLOGICAL BASIS OF THE BODY’S PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS

Abstract

Annotation. The immune system (IS) plays a critical role in the body’s adaptation to adverse endogenous and exogenous factors, as it is essential for maintaining immune homeostasis and, consequently, the adaptive potential of the body (APO). This function is realized through the coordinated interaction of various immunocompetent organs, including lymph nodes (LNs)—both visceral and peripheral (somatic). This paper proposes a novel algorithm for studying functional immunomorphology of lymph nodes, based on the assessment of five tissue-level parameters and the calculation of three derived coefficients. This new methodological approach enables an objective and precise evaluation of the structural and functional state of lymph nodes under both normal and pathological conditions. In turn, this evaluation reflects the immune status and the overall level of the body’s adaptive potential.