Lymphatic vessels collect interstitial fluid and return it to the bloodstream, but can also contribute to cancer metastasis by transporting cancerous cells through the body.
The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in the body's immune response and the maintenance of fluid balance. Interstitial fluid, which leaks out of capillaries into the spaces between cells, is collected by the lymphatic capillaries, becoming lymph. This fluid is transported through the lymphatic vessels, filtered through lymph nodes, and eventually drains back into the bloodstream.
Unfortunately, this system can also inadvertently aid in the spread of cancerous cells throughout the body, a process known as metastasis. The correct answer to the question, which component of the circulatory system can contribute to metastasis as it removes excess fluid from tumor tissue, is b. Lymphatic.