The lymphatic vascular system is not continuous like the blood vascular system. By contrast, lymphatic endothelial cells have a discontinuous basal lamina and have gaps between the lymphatic endothelial cells that can open to the adjacent connective tissue. In oedematous tissue, the endothelial cells are pulled by the anchoring filaments. Bileaflet valves prevent backflow of lymphatic fluid.
Fluid flow is represented as large arrows.
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