The “useful” hindrance to flow: quantification of intraluminal valves effect on lymph flow driven by intrinsic mechanism in the diaphragmatic lymphatic network

This work quantifies the effect that intraluminal valves exert onto the intrinsic lymph flow in an ex vivo preparation of rat diaphragm. By means of particle tracking analysis and intraluminal hydraulic pressure measurements, the added pressure gradient due to the valve, its functional section and the positive effect on net lymph flow have been carefully measured in a quasiphysiological state, revealing that the open-biased state of the valve is the key to net lymph progression.