A study of the topography of the lymphatic system of the Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula).

The superficial and deep lymphatic systems of the Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) are described. In common with other marsupials studied to date and in contrast with most eutherians, there were no popliteal lymph nodes and efferent drainage from the inguinal lymph centre passed directly to the deep axillary group of lymph nodes via an inguinoaxillary trunk. Efferent vessels from the tonsil passed directly to the deep cervical lymph node, which was drained by the tracheal trunk. The mandibular and parotid lymph nodes drained independently to the superficial cervical lymph node. All subcutaneous lymph drainage passed either through the superficial cervical or the axillary lymph centres before entering the venous system, an arrangement which is also found in kangaroos. The significance of the patterns of lesion distributions in possums with naturally occurring tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis is discussed.