The capsule is a thin layer of dense fibrous connective tissue penetrated by efferent and afferent lymphatic vessels.

It serves to as a limiting wall preventing flowing of lymph into surrounding tissues, separate surrounding connective tissues from inner lymphoid tissue and as a barrier to the spread of cancers or infections that reach the lymph node. the cortex contains many lymph follicles which are separated by trabeculae. It contains channels which route lymph to the medulla from the afferent lymphatic vessels. Immune reactions are mediated by T and B lymphocytes and antigen-presenting macrophages in the cortex. The medulla contains many macrophages. It also includes medullary cords and lymph sinuses spanned by crisscrossing reticular fibers which act as a filter for the passage of lymph from the cortex to the efferent lymphatic vessels. the follicles has antigen-presenting macrophages and T and B lymphocytes in dendritic cells surrounding germinal centers. They involve in immune reactions to antigens. Germinal center is the light-staining interior of a lymph follicle which holds dendritic cells, antigen-presenting macrophages and many activated proliferating T and B lymphocytes. Afferent vessel is a vascular tube which transports lymph from the tissue spaces into the interior of the cortex of a lymph node. It passes the fluid through a capsule opening. While efferent vessel is a vascular tube which transports lymph from medulla exiting through an opening in the hilus and on through the lymphatic circulation. The sinuses are situated in the cortex and the medulla and are separated by the trabeculae and medullary cords respectively. The hilus of the lymph node is where the efferent lymphatic vessels carry lymph away from the medulla lymph node and on in the lymphatic circulation. Lymph travel to the lymph node through afferent vessels and drains into the subcapsular sinus, trabecular sinuses and finally into medullary sinuses. The sinus is criss-crossed by the macrophages, which trap foreign particles and filter the lymph. The medullary sinuses converge and lymph then leaves the lymph node via the efferent vessel towards either a more central lymph node or for drainage into a central venous subclavian blood vessel. The lymph enters lymph nodes and slowly moves past the cells before leaving so that the lymph can access as many lymphatic cells as possible. There is a dense packaging of immune cells in the lymph node. These are microphages and they engulf and destroy anything dangerous that they can. They also play a role in showing these substances to the T and B cells. There are also areas of the lymph node called 'germinal centres' where all the b cells multiply to fight off infection. In another part of the lymph node, there are mostly T cells. When they need to, the lymphocytes leave the lymph node and enter the circulation to fight infection. The lymph nodes are there as a filter for the lymph before it re-enters the venous system.