Which component of the lymphatic system helps to filter lymph fluid?

The lymph nodes are essential structures within the lymphatic system that play a crucial role in filtering lymph fluid. Located throughout the body, lymph nodes contain immune cells that help to detect and respond to pathogens or foreign substances present in the lymph. As lymph fluid circulates through the lymphatic vessels, it passes through these nodes, where immune responses can be triggered if necessary. This filtering process helps to ensure that harmful agents are caught and dealt with before the lymph is returned to the bloodstream, thereby contributing to the body's overall immune defense.

The other components listed do not serve this specific filtering function. Veins primarily transport deoxygenated blood back to the heart, arteries carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the body, and capillaries are the smallest blood vessels that facilitate the exchange of gases and nutrients between blood and tissues. While all these components are vital to the circulatory and lymphatic systems, they do not have the filtering role that the lymph nodes provide.