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Anatomy of the Lymphatic System and Structural Changes in Lymphedema of the Extremities

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Multimodal Management of Upper and Lower Extremity Lymphedema

Abstract

A better understanding of normal lymphatic anatomy and how it changes in lymphoedema is crucially important in planning effective surgical interventions. The seminal works of the lymphatic anatomy were published by notable anatomists in the early twentieth century, but their focus was limited to the normal condition. However, the development of clinical imaging techniques since then has enabled us to investigate anatomical changes in the lymphatics that arise in patients with lymphedema. The lymphatics are structured in two layers, comprising superficial and deep systems separated by the deep fascia. The superficial lymphatic system is particularly significant for understanding the pathology of lymphedema. This chapter describes both the normal anatomy of the superficial lymphatic system in the extremities and also how it alters in lymphedema.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Morphology, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan

    Akira Shinaoka

  2. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan

    Akira Shinaoka

  3. Australian Lymphoedema Education, Research and Treatment (ALERT), Faculty of Medicine, Health andHuman Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Hiroo Suami

Authors
  1. Akira Shinaoka
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  2. Hiroo Suami
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hiroo Suami .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Mark V. Schaverien

  2. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Joseph H. Dayan

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Shinaoka, A., Suami, H. (2022). Anatomy of the Lymphatic System and Structural Changes in Lymphedema of the Extremities. In: Schaverien, M.V., Dayan, J.H. (eds) Multimodal Management of Upper and Lower Extremity Lymphedema. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93039-4_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93039-4_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-93038-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-93039-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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