Final answer:
The movement of lymph through the body occurs with the help of muscular movement, contractions of lymph vessels, and pressure changes from breathing. These mechanisms ensure lymph flows from lymph capillaries to larger vessels and finally into the bloodstream, without the aid of the heart.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three mechanisms that contribute to the movement of lymph through the body are:
- Muscular movement: The contraction of skeletal muscles during body movements.
- Lymph vessel contractions: The contraction of lymphatic vessels themselves.
- Respiratory pressure changes: The pressure changes during breathing.
Lymph is a fluid that accumulates between cells and is collected into the lymphatic system from lymph capillaries. It travels through a network of lymphatic vessels, which include one-way valves that prevent backflow and ensure lymph moves toward the heart.
Unlike the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system does not rely on the heart to pump its fluid. Instead, the body's own movements help propel lymph through the vessels, aided by the aforementioned mechanisms, before it is ultimately returned to the bloodstream through two major lymphatic ducts located in the upper chest.