Anatomy of the Lymphatic System and the Lymphosome Concept with Reference to Lymphedema

Hiroo Suami; Mario F. Scaglioni

doi:10.1055/s-0038-1635118

Seminars in Plastic Surgery, Table of Contents

Semin Plast Surg 2018; 32(01): 005-011
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1635118

Review Article

Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Anatomy of the Lymphatic System and the Lymphosome Concept with Reference to Lymphedema

Hiroo Suami

¹Australian Lymphoedema Education Research Treatment Centre (ALERT), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

,

Mario F. Scaglioni

²Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Precise knowledge of the lymphatic system normal anatomy is essential for understanding what structural changes occur in patients with lymphedema. In this article, the authors first review previous anatomical studies and summarize the general anatomy of the lymphatic system and lymphatic pathways in the upper and lower extremities. Second, they introduce their new anatomical concept, the “lymphosome,” which describes how the lymphatic vessels in a particular region connect to the same subgroup of regional lymph nodes. In addition, they describe the anatomical relationship between the perforating lymphatic vessels and arteries. In the last section, they explain the anatomical changes in the lymphatics after lymph node dissection, with reference to secondary lymphedema.

Keywords

lymph capillary - precollector - lymph collecting vessel - lymphosome - sentinel node

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References

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