Three-dimensional reconstruction of lymphatics using a crown-rump length 30 mm human fetus

Abstract

Few lymphatic morphological studies have been conducted to describe human development compared to the number of vascular studies. In this study, serial sections from a 30-mm human fetus were used to observe the differentiation of the lymphatics and blood vessels through D2-40 immuno histochemical staining and three-dimensional reconstruction to reflect the morphological characteristics. We found a connection between the lymphatics of the left jugular lymph sac flowing into the left brachiocephalic vein but not between the thoracic duct (TD) and left venous angle. We found a lymphatic plexus in the sacral region, which was located between L4 and S1. Moreover, a pair of paravertebral longitudinal lymphatics originated near the cisterna chyli and collected lymphatics that accompanied the posterior intercostal blood vessels and finally flowed into the TD. The volume of jugular lymph sac, the left side had a slightly greater than that of the right side. In contrast, the venous system on the right side had a greater advantage than that on the left. In addition, a pair of paravertebral longitudinal lymphatics may have been described as the thoracic duct.