[Local characteristics of lymphangions in human and rat uterine broad ligament]

This investigation was aimed at the evaluation of the shape and myoarchitectonic of of lymphangions in the uterine broad ligament in humans and albino rats. The lymphangion length and width was evaluated with further lymphangion volume determination, and number of myocytes in the muscular cuff was counted in the preparations containing 100 collector lymphatics obtained from 30 women aged 25-40 years and in 100 similar vessels taken from female albino rats. Most of lymphangions in the uterine broad ligament were found to have ellipsoid shape. In the rat, the lymphangions are longer and narrower with lesser volume and myocyte content in the muscular cuff, than those in humans. Short and round lymphangions with more transverse orientation of myocytes are often present close to ovary. In the angle between the uterus and the uterine tube (uterine horn in rat), single large lymphangions of collector or collector-distributive types with many processes are found. The correlation between uterine broad ligament lymphangion shape, structure and myoarchitectonic of their muscular cuffs with their location and relative width was observed.