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Lymphatic and Blood Vessels of the Aged Human Gingiva 1
Author(s) -
Bernick Sol,
Sobin Sidney S.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
gerodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1741-2358
pISSN - 0734-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-2358.1982.tb00337.x
Subject(s) - lymphatic system , lamina propria , medicine , connective tissue , pathology , stain , lumen (anatomy) , lymphatic vessel , anatomy , blood vessel , staining , epithelium , surgery , metastasis , cancer
The lymphatic pathways in the gingivae from aged humans were traced by the use of the PAS reaction or iron hematoxylin stain, and their structural characteristics were compared to those of the blood microvasculature. In the young and aging gingivae the lymphatic capillaries originated in the connective tissue papillae of the lamina propria, and appeared as thin walled irregular shaped vessels. The adjacent blood capillaries in aged gingivae differed in that their walls were thicker and stained intensely Schiff positive than seen in young adult gingivae. The lymphatic capillaries emptied into thin walled collecting vessels of varying calibers that course through the lamina propria to reach the main conducting vessels that contained valves projecting within its lumen. The accompanying blood vessels were easily differentiated from the lymphatic vessels by the intense positive staining of their walls following exposure to the PAS reaction. Distended lymphatic vessels of different caliber were demonstrable in inflamed aging gingivae, suggesting that lymphatic vessels in the aged gingivae were able to provide a drainage system for excessive fluid, proteins, and other particulates from both non‐injured and injured sites.