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Review
. 2017 Sep;231(3):417-429.
doi: 10.1111/joa.12644. Epub 2017 Jun 14.

Scholars and scientists in the history of the lymphatic system

Gianfranco Natale  1   2 , Guido Bocci  3 , Domenico Ribatti  4
Affiliations
Review

Scholars and scientists in the history of the lymphatic system

Gianfranco Natale et al. J Anat. 2017 Sep.

Abstract

The discovery of the lymphatic system has a long and fascinating history. The interest in anatomy and physiology of this system paralleled that of the blood cardiocirculatory system and has been maybe obscured by the latter. Paradoxically, if the closed blood system appeared open in Galen's anatomy and physiology, and took a very long time to be correctly described in terms of pulmonary and general circulation by ibn Al-Nafis/Michael Servetus/Realdo Colombo and William Harvey, respectively, the open lymphatic system was incorrectly described as a closed circuit connected with arteries and veins. In ancient times only macroscopic components of the lymphatic system have been described, although misinterpreted, including lymph nodes and lacteals, the latter being easily identified because of their milk-like content. For about 15 centuries the dogmatic acceptance of Galen's notions did not allow a significant progress in medicine. After Vesalius' revolution in anatomical studies, new knowledge was accumulated, and the 17th century was the golden age for the investigation of the lymphatic system with several discoveries: gut lacteals (Gaspare Aselli), cloacal bursa (Hieronimus Fabricius of Acquapendente), reservoir of the chyle (Jean Pecquet), extra-intestinal lymphatic vessels (Thomas Bartholin and Olaus Rudbeck dispute), hepatic lymph circulation (Francis Glisson). In the Enlightenment century Frederik Ruysch described the function of lymphatic valves, and Paolo Mascagni provided a magnificent iconography of the lymphatic network in humans. In recent times, Leonetto Comparini realized three-dimensional reconstructions of the liver lymphatic vessels, and Kari Alitalo discovered the lymphatic growth factor/receptor system. Far from a complete understanding of its anatomy and function, the lymphatic system still needs to be profoundly examined.

Keywords: history of medicine; lacteals; lymphatic growth factors; lymphatic system.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic diagram showing the principal steps of the scientific progress in the knowledge of lymphatic system anatomo‐physiology. Note that the dogmatic Galen's medicine lasted about 15 centuries. The 17th century was the most prolific in terms of anatomical discoveries.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Plaster bust of Gaspare Aselli. Gallery of Busts of the Museum of Human Anatomy ‘Filippo Civinini’ of the University of Pisa.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Plaster bust of Paolo Mascagni. Mascagni's Gallery of the Museum of Human Anatomy ‘Filippo Civinini’ of the University of Pisa.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Original plate XIV from Mascagni's Vasorum lymphaticorum corporis humani historia et ichnographia (1787). Romiti's Library, University of Pisa.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Prof. Leonetto Comparini. Photo kindly provided by Prof. Elisabetta Weber (University of Siena).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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