The methodology of lymphatic anatomy studies in a cadaver model: an overview

Abstract

The lymphatic system is the area least investigated in the field of anatomical science. The major reason for this is the technical difficulty in identifying the lymphatics in the surrounding tissue in post-mortem specimens. As a result, the medical illustration masterpieces crafted by pioneer anatomists on the basis of cadaver dissections remain a vital component of current anatomical textbooks. Several innovative techniques were developed in the past to allow anatomists to distinguish the transparent lymphatic structures from their surroundings and enable thorough investigation of the lymphatic system in a cadaver model. This paper focuses on these techniques, including the current technique developed by the authors themselves.