Articles

THE LYMPHATICS OF THE SKIN FILLED BY A DERMAL BACKFLOW: AN OBSERVATION IN A SCARRED CADAVER LEG

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Abstract

There have been few photographic studies done on lymphatics of human skin with previous images obtained by indirect dye injection into the dermis. We have developed a direct injection technique for investigating the lymphatic system in human adult cadavers and used this to investigate superficial lymphatics of the legs in a fresh human cadaver. We found an unusual observation in a skin graft scarred leg when the radio-opaque mixture injected into a lymph collecting vessel in the dorsal foot filled the skin lymphatics in the mid-lateral pretibial region. Further radiological investigation revealed that the dermal back flow was associated with a blockage of the lymph collecting vessel within the skin graft scar. We also found tracer transport through a circuitous pathway from the blocked collecting vessel to an adjacent intact collecting vessel. The transilluminated image of the skin demonstrated a three dimensional polygon of lymph capillaries and precollecting lymphatics in the dermis.

Keywords: Human cadaver, lymphatic collecting vessel, pre-collecting vessel, direct injection technique, dermal backflow

How to Cite:

Suami, H., Pan, W. & Taylor, G., (2007) “THE LYMPHATICS OF THE SKIN FILLED BY A DERMAL BACKFLOW: AN OBSERVATION IN A SCARRED CADAVER LEG”, Lymphology 40(3), 122-126.