Studies of the lymphatic drainage of dog lungs

The lymphatic system of the lungs has proved difficult to study and characterize because it is technically complex to investigate, its properties are difficult to quantitate, and anatomically it is extraordinarily variable. This study was part of a more comprehensive effort to understand the nature of lymphatic permeation by extrinsic materials (e.g., dusts) arising from alveolar deposition, and had three main objectives: (1) to develop a reliable surgical approach for the collection of lymph from the right duct; (2) to investigate some of the inconsistencies in lymphatic structure and function, especially the relationship of the right lymph duct (RLD) and thoracic lymph duct (TLD) outflows to the pulmonic lymph; and (3) to begin a systematic investigation of lymphatic uptake of administered materials by varying their physicochemical parameters. Ultimately, we utilized a modification of the surgical approach of Meyer, which we believe is less prone to blood contamination than the venous‐sac procedure of L...