Lymphatic muscle: a review of contractile function. Academic Article

abstract

• A recent surge in lymphangiogenesis research has led to a greater understanding of lymphatic endothelial cell biology. However, a general understanding of lymphatic muscle cell biology lags far behind its endothelial counterpart. Lymphatics at the level of the collecting vessels and higher contain muscular walls capable of both tonic and phasic contractions, which both generate and regulate lymph flow. Because lymphatic contraction is crucial to lymphatic function, a solid understanding of lymphatic muscle development and function is necessary to understand lymphatic biology. This review summarizes the current body of lymphatic muscle research and addresses important questions that are currently unanswered.

authors

• Zawieja, David

published proceedings

• Lymphat Res Biol

author list (cited authors)

• Bridenbaugh, E. A., Gashev, A. A., & Zawieja, D. C.

citation count

• 66

complete list of authors

• Bridenbaugh, Eric A||Gashev, Anatoliy A||Zawieja, David C

publication date

• April 2003

publisher

• Mary Ann Liebert  Publisher

published in

• Lymphatic Research and Biology  Journal

keywords

• Animals
• Cell Proliferation
• Endothelium, Lymphatic
• Humans
• Lymph
• Lymphangiogenesis
• Lymphatic System
• Lymphatic Vessels
• Muscle Contraction
• Muscle, Smooth
• Muscles

PubMed Central ID

• 15624422

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1089/153968503321642633

start page

• 147

end page

• 158

volume

• 1

issue

• 2

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/153968503321642633