Lymph node lymphatic circulation between normal and pathological patterns.

The Authors report here on a peculiar aspect of lymphatic circulation and on para-physiological or frankly pathological conditions that can be observed during chronic lymph stasis. Investigations have been focused on the lymph node capsule and the junction between afferent lymphatics and marginal lymph node sinuses. Clearly enough, lymphatic stations - featuring lymph node clusters only apparently randomly arranged along the lymphatic trunks - are the actual nodes and key sites in lymph passage from medium to large lymphatic vessels. Here the lymph is sorted out and at the same time its flow slowed down, not only due to the branching of lymphatics, but also to lymph pools and lymph node structures, where the lymph flow rate is reduced.