Which vessel collects extracellular fluid and returns it to the circulatory system?

Lymphatic vessels are specifically designed to collect extracellular fluid, also known as lymph, from the tissues of the body. This fluid is filtered through lymph nodes, where it undergoes examination for pathogens and other harmful substances. The primary function of lymphatic vessels is to return this fluid to the circulatory system, specifically to the bloodstream, helping to maintain fluid balance within the body.

In comparison, veins are responsible for returning deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart, arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body, and capillaries facilitate the exchange of nutrients, gases, and waste products between the blood and the body's tissues. While all these vessels play critical roles in circulation and fluid management within the body, lymphatic vessels uniquely focus on the recovery and transport of extracellular fluid back to circulation, which is essential for the immune response and maintaining homeostasis.