[libribook.com] Traumatic Scar Tissue Management 1st Edition

Fig 3.5
Brain lymphatic vessels.
Given the lymph and immune systems role in wound healing, one can surmise that future work in
this area may reveal significant considerations for scar management.
Lymph flow is a one-way system directed toward the heart. The lymphatic
system begins out in the tissues as small lymphatic vessels (lymph capillaries)
and continues with successively larger lymphatic vessels (collectors and trunks),
which ultimately connect to the venous part of the blood vascular system.
There is no central pump; lymph vessels produce their own propulsion system
with a network of smooth musculature located in the walls of lymph collectors
and trunks. In addition to phasic contraction of smooth muscle, lymph flow is
also assisted by pressure gradients, skeletal muscle contraction, intestinal
motility, respiration, extrinsic compression forces, movement (active and
passive) and manual lymphatic techniques (Rockson 2001, Knott et al. 2005,
Hodge et al. 2007 & 2010, Macdonald et al. 2008, Quick et al. 2008, Davis et al.
2009, Huff et al. 2010, Hodge & Downey 2011).