LYMPH VESSELS OF THE RABBIT HEART: DISTRIBUTION AND FINE STRUCTURE IN ATRIA

C Marchetti, P Poggi, A Calligaro, A Casasco

Abstract


The distribution and fine structure of lymph
capillaries in the atria of the rabbit heart were
examined. A lymph capillary network extends
into both the right and left atria but its distribution
is not uniform. It is developed in the
subepicardium but not in the myocardium and
subendocardium of the atrial wall; overall it is
less extensive than the corresponding network in
the ventricles. In the atrial conduction system
and in particular the sino-atrial node and the
crista terminalis, the lymph network is more
widely distributed; small lymph capillaries are
also detected between the myocardial cells of the
conduction system. A large lymph channel consistently
runs along the medial side of the crista
terminalis. The morphologic characteristics of
atrial lymph capillaries include irregular shape,
thinness of the endothelial wall, superimpositions
and interlockings of the cells in the contact areas
with complex junctional processes, thin and
discontinuous basal membrane.


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