What is the Difference Between Cardiovascular System and Lymphatic System

The key difference between cardiovascular system and lymphatic system is that cardiovascular system is a part of the circulatory system and carries blood throughout the body, while lymphatic system is a part the circulatory system and immune system and carries a clear fluid called lymph throughout the body.

The circulatory system is an organ system that carries blood and transports other substances such as nutrients, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hormones, and blood cells to and from the cells in the human body. This system provides nourishment and helps to fight against diseases. Moreover, it maintains body homeostasis through stabilizing temperature and pH. It consists of both cardiovascular system and lymphatic system. Therefore, cardiovascular system and lymphatic system are the two main parts of the circulatory system.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Cardiovascular System
3. What is Lymphatic System
4. Similarities – Cardiovascular System and Lymphatic System
5. Cardiovascular System vs Lymphatic System in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Cardiovascular System vs Lymphatic System

What is Cardiovascular System?

Cardiovascular system is a component of the circulatory system that carries blood throughout the body. It comprises the blood, heart, and blood vessels. Blood is a fluid that entails plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Blood is circulated by the heart throughout the vertebrate vascular system. Usually, blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body tissues. Blood also removes waste materials from all body tissues. Humans and other vertebrates have a closed cardiovascular system. It means that the blood never leaves the network of arteries, veins, and capillaries. However, some invertebrate groups have an open cardiovascular system.

Cardiovascular System vs Lymphatic System in Tabular Form

Figure 01: Cardiovascular System

Many diseases affect the circulatory system. These include cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, abnormal heart rhythms, congenital heart disease, carditis, aortic aneurysms, peripheral artery disease and venous thrombosis.

What is Lymphatic System?

Lymphatic system is a part of the circulatory system that carries a clear fluid called lymph towards the heart. It is a main part of the circulatory system in many complex animals such as mammals and birds. It is a network of lymphatic vessels, lymphatic capillaries, lymph nodes, lymphatic tissues, and organs. The lymphatic system consists of circulating lymph. Lymph is a clear fluid. Lymph is essentially recycled blood plasma. It is normally produced after it has been filtered from the interstitial fluid and returned to the lymphatic system. The composition of lymph continually changes. This is because the blood and the surrounding cells continually exchange substances with interstitial fluid. Moreover, lymph returns proteins and excess interstitial fluid to the bloodstream. In addition, lymph transports fats from the digestive system to blood through chylomicrons.

Cardiovascular System and Lymphatic System - Side by Side Comparison

Figure 02: Lymphatic System

One of the major functions of the lymphatic system is to carry lymph, draining and returning interstitial fluid back towards the heart in order to return it to the cardiovascular system. The other major function is participating in adaptative immunity. Lymphatic diseases such as lymphoma, lymphadenitis, lymphedema, lymphangitis, lymphocytosis affect the lymphatic system. Vascular surgeons treat these lymphatic disorders.

Similarities Between Cardiovascular System and Lymphatic System

The cardiovascular system and lymphatic system are the two main parts of the circulatory system.
Both systems are specialized to transport vital fluids.
They contain fluids that have white blood cells.
Both systems are extremely important to fight against diseases and maintain homeostasis of the body.
Both systems are affected by diseases that are curable.

Difference Between Cardiovascular System and Lymphatic System

The cardiovascular system is a part of the circulatory system that carries blood throughout the body while the lymphatic system is a part circulatory system that carries a clear fluid called lymph throughout the body. So, this is the key difference between cardiovascular system and lymphatic system. Furthermore, the cardiovascular system comprises the blood, heart, and blood vessels, while the lymphatic system comprises the lymph, lymphatic vessels, lymphatic capillaries, lymph nodes and lymphatic tissues.

The below infographic presents more details on the difference between cardiovascular system and lymphatic system in tabular form.

Summary – Cardiovascular System vs Lymphatic System

Cardiovascular system and lymphatic system are the two main parts of the circulatory system. Cardiovascular system carries blood throughout the body, while lymphatic system carries a clear fluid called lymph throughout the body. Thus, this is the key difference between cardiovascular system and lymphatic system.