The Cardiac Lymphatic System: An Overview

The heart is invested with a complex, intertwining network of blood and lymphatic vessels which, respectively, provide the cardiac tissue with oxygen and nutrients and eliminate excess fluid from the interstitium. The coronary blood vessels have been the focus of much investigation in the past few decades. On the other hand, the literature regarding the cardiac lymphatic vessels remains sparse, despite their important role in maintaining normal heart function. With this in mind, a better understanding of the cardiac lymphatic network and its ability to regulate fluid homeostasis within the heart could give us insight into developing therapies for the alleviation of several cardiac pathological conditions.

The Cardiac Lymphatic System: An Overview provides in-depth coverage of the cardiac lymphatic vessels and the essential nature of their patterning and development in the heart tissue. The volume is organized into three sections: the anatomy of the cardiac lymphatic system, the cardiac lymphatics and heart disease, and cardiac lymphatic signaling. The content of this book will be useful to a broad audience interested in cardiovascular medicine and physiology, including clinicians, students, and researchers in the fields of developmental biology, cardiology and applied anatomy. The groundwork in this book will be able to provide readers with vital information on the crucial role played by the cardiac lymphatic vessels in preserving normal heart function.