What system is composed of a network of vessels, ducts, nodes, and organs that provide defense against infections?

The lymphatic system is specifically designed to provide defense against infections, playing a crucial role in the immune response. It includes a network of vessels, ducts, nodes, and various organs such as the lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus. This system is responsible for transporting lymph, a fluid containing infection-fighting white blood cells, throughout the body.

When pathogens enter the body, lymph nodes filter the lymph and trap these invaders, allowing immune cells to attack and eliminate them. The lymphatic system also aids in the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins from the digestive system, linking it to other bodily functions, but its primary role is in immune defense.

In contrast, the circulatory system primarily facilitates the movement of blood, nutrients, and oxygen but does not focus specifically on defending against infections. The nervous system is involved in signaling and communication within the body, while the endocrine system includes glands that secrete hormones influencing many body processes, but neither of these systems has a primary role in immune defense like the lymphatic system does.