Journal of Dental Research, Vol 56, 70-77, Copyright © 1977 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Lymphatic vessels of the human dental pulp
S. Bernick
Noncarious teeth obtained from individuals 15 to 50 years of age were used
to study the lymphatic drainage of the human pulp. Thick sections (50 to
150 microns) were stained with iron hematoxylin for the demonstration of
lymph and blood vessels. Lymph capillaries originated as blind sacs in the
odontoblastic layer and in the pulp proper near the pulpo-odontoblastic
border. They drained into small thin-walled collecting vessels that were
irregular in shape and showed great variability in their drainage patterns.
Communications between these vessels were very common. The larger
conducting lymphatic vessels accompanied the blood vessels and nerves in
their course through the pulp. They could be identified by their thin walls
and small size. The large caliber lymphatic vessels contained valves, a
structure not present in the veins of the same size. The conducting
lymphatic vessels passed through the roots as individual units without
draining into a large single vessel. The lymphatic vessels of the human
pulp must be considered as a pathway for the removal of excessive tissue
fluid in normal and diseased pulps.
