Which term describes the second circulatory system?

Prepare for the VTCT Level 2 Facial and Skincare Test. Revise with flashcards and multiple choice questions, accompanied by insightful explanations. Ace your assessment with confidence!

The second circulatory system is the lymphatic system. It operates alongside the cardiovascular system but serves different roles: it collects tissue fluid (lymph) that leaks from capillaries, transports it through lymph nodes where immune filtering happens, and then returns it to the bloodstream. It also carries absorbed fats from the digestive system as chyle, which is a lymphatic fluid rich in lipids. This makes the lymphatic system the defining network described as the secondary circulatory system.

The systemic (cardiovascular) circulation moves blood through the heart and body, delivering oxygen and nutrients and returning blood to the heart. Fluid distribution isn’t a named body system, and chyle is a form of lymph fluid, not a system itself. Understanding the lymphatic system is also clinically useful in skincare, as lymph drainage techniques can help reduce puffiness by promoting lymph flow.