title: Central lymph propulsion.
abstract: Dissections reveal that each lymphatic organ characteristic of species is supplied with lymph hearts, smooth muscles, or striated muscles whose contractions (along with tranmitted arterial pulsations and changing gravitational forces) coordinately propel lymph centrally during breathing, swallowing, food absorption and joint flexion. In aquatic vertebrates and amphibians lymph hearts, closely related to the gills, propel central lymph into the jugular veins. In aerial vertebrates with well-developed lungs, the striated muscles which enable ventilation, propel central lymph into large veins coursing through the thoracic inlet at rates commensurate with oxygen consumption under normal conditions.
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003679:Deglutition; D005399:Fishes / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008196:Lymph / Q000502:physiology*; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D051381:Rats / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012119:Respiration; D014426:Turtles / Q000033:anatomy & histology