LYMPH FLOW IN HUMAN LEG

Abstract

A little bit of RJSA (0.01 - 0.02 ml) was injected into
a lymphatic at the back of a human foot in supine
and/or sitting position, and the radioactivity curves
were obtained at the inguinal and/or at the middle of
the thigh. Radioactivity curves at the inguinal region
showed stepwise rise with the frequency of about
1 /min. in subjects without edema and steep rise
without staircase in patients with cardiac edema.
Radioactivity curves at the middle of the thigh showed
many spiky waves with the frequency of about 1/min.
in supine subjects without edema, which were increased
in frequency , duration and/or height in sitting subjects
without edema and also in supine and sitting patients
with cardiac edema.

Therefore, it may be said that there are rhythmic lymph
flows in lower leg of subjects without edema and of
patients with cardiac edema not only in supine but
also in sitting position, and also that lymphatic contractility
plays some role in propelling lymph in human leg.