Multiscale Modelling of Lymphatic Drainage
In this chapter we will describe the latest developments in the area of lymphatic modelling. The lymphatic system is one of the key elements of the human circulation, serving the dual functions of draining interstitial fluid and returning this to the gene
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Abstract In this chapter we will describe the latest developments in the area of lymphatic modelling. The lymphatic system is one of the key elements of the human circulation, serving the dual functions of draining interstitial fluid and returning this to the general blood circulation, together with processing this lymph fluid which is a key component of the body’s immune response system. Compared to the main cardiovascular system however, remarkably little modelling has been attempted. At the same time, the distribution of pumping activity (contractile lymphangions coupled with simple valves) throughout the system, passive primary lymphatics and complex lymph nodes combining to form an active network, makes the system a prime candidate for multiscale modelling.
1 Introduction Even though the existence of lymphatic vessels has been known since the seventeenth century, until very recently not much was known about their functioning and development. This was due to our failure to understand their importance in the proper functioning of tissues. However, in the last ten years, lymphatics have come to the forefront of biomedical research largely due to findings highlighting their importance to cancer growth and metastasis [48]. Thus there are now a large T. Roose (&) Bioengineering Sciences Research Group, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK e-mail: [email protected] G. Tabor College of Engineering, Maths and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK e-mail: [email protected]
Stud Mechanobiol Tissue Eng Biomater (2013) 14: 149–176 DOI: 10.1007/8415_2012_148 Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012 Published Online: 31 October 2012
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number of experimental studies of molecular and micromechanical factors controlling lymphatics. Although these studies have greatly increased our knowledge of different aspects of the lymphatic system there is a need to integrate these studies to produce quantitative models of the functioning of the lymphatic system. In particular such models should aim to explain the effect of the lymphatics on the macroscale, i.e., organ and body scale, in terms of the system’s microscopic and molecular properties. As well as providing a framework for interpreting experimental results and highlighting interesting avenues for new experimental studies, in the long term such modelling can lead to new ways of treating important medical conditions. The fundamental role of the lymphatic system is to collect excess interstitial fluids, tissue waste products and plasma proteins from tissue and return them to the blood. Tissues require fluid and nutrients and these are supplied to them by blood vessels. After the fluid has performed its function it is reabsorbed either by the lymphatics or by postcapillary venules, with the dominant contribution in most cases being due to the lymphatics. Thus when the lymphatic system is unable to function the interstitial pressure becomes heightened and the tissues become swollen. In add
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