Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari Medical School, Italy.
Br J Haematol. 2010 Jun;149(5):669-74. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2009.08053.x. Epub 2010 Jan 13.
Work on the lymphatic system began in the 17th century, and by the beginning of the 19th century the anatomy of most of the lymphatic system had been described. One of the most important questions in this field has been the determination of the embryological origin of the lymphatic endothelium. Two theories were proposed. The first suggested that lymphatic endothelium derived by sprouting from venous endothelium, the so-called centrifugal theory. The second, the so-called centripetal theory, suggested that lymphatic endothelium differentiates in situ from primitive mesenchyme, and secondarily acquires connection with the vascular system. More recent evidence has provided support for both hypotheses.
淋巴系统的研究始于 17 世纪，到 19 世纪初，大部分淋巴系统的解剖结构已经被描述。该领域最重要的问题之一是确定淋巴内皮细胞的胚胎起源。提出了两种理论。第一种理论认为，淋巴内皮细胞是从静脉内皮细胞中发芽而来的，即所谓的离心理论。第二种理论，即所谓的向心理论，认为淋巴内皮细胞从原始间充质原位分化而来，然后与脉管系统建立联系。最近的证据为这两种假说都提供了支持。
