Lymphatic dysfunction in advanced cirrhosis: Contextual perspective and clinical implications

Figure 1 Schematic diagram showing lymph flow kinetics from liver and intestine to the systemic circulation. The capillary filtrate enters the lymphatic capillaries, as lymph, and moves towards larger lymphatic vessels. In liver, lymph is produced by filtration of plasma through the sinusoidal endothelial cells into the space of Disse. The collecting lymphatic vessels from all organs connect to one or more lymph nodes, and finally to the lymph trunks which ultimately drain into subclavian vein via cysterna chyli and thoracic duct. Approximately 80% of thoracic duct lymph comes from the intestines and liver.