Lymph contains two types of components. Cellular material and non-cellular material.
1. Cellular components: The cellular components of lymph are lymphocytes and monocytes. There are 500-75,000 lymphocytes per cubic milliliter of blood.
2. Non-cellular components: The non-cellular components of lymph are-
(i) Water: Lymph contains 94% water.
(ii) Proteins: Proteins present in lymph are albumin, globulin, fibrinogen, enzymes and antibodies.
(iii) Lipids: Lymph contains triglycerides and phospholipids as chylomicrons. Eating fatty foods increases the amount of fat in the lymph and makes the lymph appear milky white. White lymph is called Kyle.
(iv) Sugars: 100 ml of lymph contains 120-132 grams of sugars (glucose).
(v) Minerals: Lymph contains calcium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, chloride and bicarbonate.
(vi) Excretory products: The excretory products of lymph are urea, uric acid, creatinine etc.