Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

The main channel for carrying lymph. Channels that collect lymph from organs and regions of the body. One of two main ducts conveying lymph to the bloodstream: the left lymphatic (thoracic) and the right lymphatic duct, which drains lymph from the right side of the body above the diaphragm. It discharges into the right subclavian…

Any of the capillaries which lead from tissue and join lymphatic vessels. One of the smallest lymphatic vessels. These thin-walled tubes consist of a single layer of endothelium ending blindly in a swollen or rounded end, and form a dense network in most tissues of the body. They are generally slightly larger in diameter than…

A malignant tumour of the endothelial cells lining the lymph vessels. A malignant tumor of the lymphatic vessels. It is most commonly seen in the chronically swollen (edematous) arms of women who have had a mastectomy for breast cancer. A malignant neoplasm that develops from the endothelial lining of lymphatics.  

A surgical operation to make artificial lymph channels. Establishment of artificial lymph ducts to bypass areas of blocked lymphatic circulation. The formation of artificial lymphatics or the use of microsurgical technique to reestablish lymphatic or lymphogenous continuity.  

A benign tumour formed of lymph tissues. Benign tumor made up of dilated lymph vessels. A benign (not cancerous) tumor in the skin composed of dilated lymph vessels. Lymphangiomas primarily occur on the arms and chest. They are usually removed by excision (cutting away the tumor) for cosmetic reasons. A localized collection of distended lymphatic…

An X-ray examination of the lymph vessels following introduction of radio-opaque material. A procedure whereby the lymphatics and lymphatic glands can be rendered visible on X-ray films by means of the injection of radio-opaque substances. It has now been replaced largely by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Immediate radiological investigation of the lymphatic vessels after injection of…

Swelling of the smaller lymph vessels as a result of obstructions in larger vessels. Dilatation of the lymphatic vessels, which is usually congenital and produces enlargement of various parts of the body (e.g. the leg in Milroy’s disease). It may also be caused by obstruction of the lymphatic vessels. Benign swelling in all or part…

The surgical removal of lymph nodes, an operation commonly performed when a cancer has invaded nodes in the drainage area of an organ infiltrated by a malignant growth. Surgical removal of the lymph nodes. The procedure is usually carried out when cancer has infiltrated the nodes in the lymphatic drainage zone of an organ or…

A viral disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted by bites from deer ticks. It causes rashes, nervous pains, paralysis and, in extreme cases, death. Lyme disease (LD), the most common tick-borne disease in the United States, is transmitted mainly by the black-legged tick, often called the deer tick. The disease is a bacterial infection caused…

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland, which stimulates the formation of the corpus luteum in females and of testosterone in males. A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland which stimulates ovulation, maturation of the corpus luteum, and the synthesis of progesterone by the ovary and testosterone by the testis.