The second valve system in lymphatics

GW Schmid-Schönbein - Lymphatic research and biology, 2003 - liebertpub.com
GW Schmid-Schönbein
Lymphatic research and biology, 2003liebertpub.com
The mechanism for interstitial fluid uptake into the lymphatics of the microcirculation remains
speculative and uncertain. There exists a system of intralymphatic valves that prevent reflow
along the length of the lymphatic channels, but these valves are insufficient to provide
unidirectional flow at the level of the initial lymphatics. We propose that initial lymphatics
have a two-valve system: a (primary) valve system at the level of the endothelium in addition
to the classical (secondary) intralymphatic valves. The primary valves, in conjunction with …
The mechanism for interstitial fluid uptake into the lymphatics of the microcirculation remains speculative and uncertain. There exists a system of intralymphatic valves that prevent reflow along the length of the lymphatic channels, but these valves are insufficient to provide unidirectional flow at the level of the initial lymphatics. We propose that initial lymphatics have a two-valve system: a (primary) valve system at the level of the endothelium in addition to the classical (secondary) intralymphatic valves. The primary valves, in conjunction with the secondary valves, provide a mechanism that facilitates the unidirectional flow during periodic compression and expansion of initial lymphatics.
Mary Ann Liebert