Lymphatic Territories (Lymphosomes) in the Rat: an Anatomical Study for Future Lymphatic Research

摘要

BackgroundUnderstanding the precise anatomy in experimental animals is crucial to correct design of research projects. Rats are commonly used for scientific research in plastic surgery because of their availability in academic institutions, moderate cost and sizable vessels for microsurgical procedures. In past publications about rat anatomy, lymphatic mapping has been limited and incomplete. The aim of this study was to comprehensively map the superficial lymphatic system in the rat.