In some lymph nodes, water and water-soluble substances of smaller molecular weight are known to be absorbed into blood vessels, and consequently the protein concentration of lymph within the nodes increases. In this study, we examined pressure-flow relationships of lymph nodes in situ and exchange properties of water and water-soluble substances through the nodes with special reference to infl...

Lymph dynamics in idiopathic portal hypertension has been studied in two phases. In the first phase thoracic duct lymph transport was studied in 11 patients with idiopathic portal hypertension by cannulating the duct. This revealed altered lymph transport in the form of a distended thoracic duct, raised pressure in the duct, and haemorrhagic lymph with an increased flow rate. The lymph flow rat...

The Starling equation, which describes net transvascular liquid flow, does not include the possibility that a reduction in plasma protein concentration may have a direct effect on lung liquid conductance or microvascular protein permeability. Nevertheless, both effects have been reported. Since these results were not predictable, we wondered whether the changes were due to the decrease in plasm...

The relationship between bronchovascular cuff formation and lung lymph flow in hydrostatic edema was evaluated. After a balloon was inserted into the left atrium to increase left atrial pressure for 5 hrs, peripheral lung tissues were resected for analysis of the wet-dry ratio and cuff formation. The degree of cuff formation was expressed as the cuff ratio (outer diameter of cuff/outer diameter...

I t is well known that massage and muscular movement increase the formation and flow of lymph (1-4). Undoubtedly pressure changes in the tissue are largely responsible. Nevertheless, the mechanism of lymph formation under such circumstances is not understood. Clearly the solution of the problem waits upon a better understanding of the factors influencing the extravascular transport of fluids th...

Lymphangions, segments of lymphatic vessels bounded by valves, have characteristics of both ventricles and arteries. They can act primarily like pumps when actively transporting lymph against a pressure gradient. They also can act as conduit vessels when passively transporting lymph down a pressure gradient. This duality has implications for clinical treatment of several types of edema, since t...

Lymph flow into the thoracic duct of rats is reduced by 60% through immobilization with anesthesia. From this reduction, changes of the autonomic nervous activity by alpha-chloralose accounts for 20%. Pancuronium bromide blocking of the skeletal neuromuscular junction reduces lymph flow in the anesthetized rats by an additional 4%.

Vital dyes injected intradermally enter lymphatic capillaries directly, rendering them visible, and appear later in the draining lymphatic trunks as colored streamers. The method enables one to perceive the state of the lymphatic channels and the rate of lymph flow within them. It yields consistent results when tested under physiological conditions known to increase or decrease lymph flow. In t...