Impact of lymphatic vessels on the heart

Abstract

This review updates the knowledge in the research field of cardiac lymphatic vessels by collecting both scientific evidence and hypotheses, including cardiac lymphatic vessel anatomy and lymph flow, the mechanism of cardiac lymphatic pumping, pathological findings and mechanisms of cardiac injury caused by lymph flow impairment, cardiac functional improvement by increasing lymph flow in the heart in patients with myocardial infarction, and the mechanisms of lymphangiogenesis.