Comparative and Developmental Anatomy of Cardiac Lymphatics

The role of the cardiac lymphatic system has been recently appreciated since lymphatic disturbances take part in various heart pathologies. This review presents the current knowledge about normal anatomy and structure of lymphatics and their prenatal development for a better understanding of the pro...

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Main Authors: A. Ratajska, G. Gula, A. Flaht-Zabost, E. Czarnowska, B. Ciszek, E. Jankowska-Steifer, J. Niderla-Bielinska, D. Radomska-Lesniewska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/183170
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author A. Ratajska
G. Gula
A. Flaht-Zabost
E. Czarnowska
B. Ciszek
E. Jankowska-Steifer
J. Niderla-Bielinska
D. Radomska-Lesniewska
author_facet A. Ratajska
G. Gula
A. Flaht-Zabost
E. Czarnowska
B. Ciszek
E. Jankowska-Steifer
J. Niderla-Bielinska
D. Radomska-Lesniewska
author_sort A. Ratajska
collection DOAJ
description The role of the cardiac lymphatic system has been recently appreciated since lymphatic disturbances take part in various heart pathologies. This review presents the current knowledge about normal anatomy and structure of lymphatics and their prenatal development for a better understanding of the proper functioning of this system in relation to coronary circulation. Lymphatics of the heart consist of terminal capillaries of various diameters, capillary plexuses that drain continuously subendocardial, myocardial, and subepicardial areas, and draining (collecting) vessels that lead the lymph out of the heart. There are interspecies differences in the distribution of lymphatic capillaries, especially near the valves, as well as differences in the routes and number of draining vessels. In some species, subendocardial areas contain fewer lymphatic capillaries as compared to subepicardial parts of the heart. In all species there is at least one collector vessel draining lymph from the subepicardial plexuses and running along the anterior interventricular septum under the left auricle and further along the pulmonary trunk outside the heart and terminating in the right venous angle. The second collector assumes a different route in various species. In most mammalian species the collectors run along major branches of coronary arteries, have valves and a discontinuous layer of smooth muscle cells.
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spelling doaj-art-2b7920da960a4e7484d86b6c487e31d12025-02-03T01:10:04ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/183170183170Comparative and Developmental Anatomy of Cardiac LymphaticsA. Ratajska0G. Gula1A. Flaht-Zabost2E. Czarnowska3B. Ciszek4E. Jankowska-Steifer5J. Niderla-Bielinska6D. Radomska-Lesniewska7Department of Pathology, Medical University of Warsaw, Chałubińskiego 5, 02-004 Warsaw, PolandStudent Scientific Group at the Department of Pathology, Medical University of Warsaw, Chałubińskiego 5, 02-004 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Pathology, Medical University of Warsaw, Chałubińskiego 5, 02-004 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Pathology, Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Aleja Dzieci Polskich 20, 04-730 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Clinical Anatomy, Medical University of Warsaw, Chałubińskiego 5, 02-004 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Warsaw, Chałubińskiego 5, 02-004 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Warsaw, Chałubińskiego 5, 02-004 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Warsaw, Chałubińskiego 5, 02-004 Warsaw, PolandThe role of the cardiac lymphatic system has been recently appreciated since lymphatic disturbances take part in various heart pathologies. This review presents the current knowledge about normal anatomy and structure of lymphatics and their prenatal development for a better understanding of the proper functioning of this system in relation to coronary circulation. Lymphatics of the heart consist of terminal capillaries of various diameters, capillary plexuses that drain continuously subendocardial, myocardial, and subepicardial areas, and draining (collecting) vessels that lead the lymph out of the heart. There are interspecies differences in the distribution of lymphatic capillaries, especially near the valves, as well as differences in the routes and number of draining vessels. In some species, subendocardial areas contain fewer lymphatic capillaries as compared to subepicardial parts of the heart. In all species there is at least one collector vessel draining lymph from the subepicardial plexuses and running along the anterior interventricular septum under the left auricle and further along the pulmonary trunk outside the heart and terminating in the right venous angle. The second collector assumes a different route in various species. In most mammalian species the collectors run along major branches of coronary arteries, have valves and a discontinuous layer of smooth muscle cells.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/183170
spellingShingle A. Ratajska
G. Gula
A. Flaht-Zabost
E. Czarnowska
B. Ciszek
E. Jankowska-Steifer
J. Niderla-Bielinska
D. Radomska-Lesniewska
Comparative and Developmental Anatomy of Cardiac Lymphatics
The Scientific World Journal
title Comparative and Developmental Anatomy of Cardiac Lymphatics
title_full Comparative and Developmental Anatomy of Cardiac Lymphatics
title_fullStr Comparative and Developmental Anatomy of Cardiac Lymphatics
title_full_unstemmed Comparative and Developmental Anatomy of Cardiac Lymphatics
title_short Comparative and Developmental Anatomy of Cardiac Lymphatics
title_sort comparative and developmental anatomy of cardiac lymphatics
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/183170
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AT bciszek comparativeanddevelopmentalanatomyofcardiaclymphatics
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