THE LYMPHATICS OF THE GREATER OMENTUM AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY IN THE DOG

Abstract

No detailed description of the lymphatics of the greater omentum has hitherto been presented. In an earlier, preliminary study on dogs (lntonti, Nylander and Tjernberg, 1964) we found the peripheral parts of the omentum to be relatively richly supplied with lymph vessels of very fine calibre. These marginal lymphatics formed a delicate net-like pattern. Local bulges indicated the presence of valves in the collecting lymph channels which increased surprisingly little in calibre in their course towards the base of the omentum. We suggested that these lymph channels might be responsible for the peritoneal drainage to a considerable extent. In the present investigation we have further studied the lymphatics of the omentum and their connections with the lymph vessels of neighbouring organs, especially the stomach and the spleen. The study of these topographical relations was initiated by the well-known fact that the greater omentum is very often the seat of metastases from abdominal and pelvic carcinoma.