An anatomically grounded human-scale dynamic model of contraction-driven lymphatic pumping
Abstract
Lymphangions, the valved muscular segments of lymphatic vessels, pump lymph against an adverse pressure gradient. Current models resolve this pumping in one vessel, a short chain or a regional network, and whole-body human models are passive. We extend the passive whole-body network of a companion static study to the active regime on the same anatomical graph, with intrinsic contraction, dynamic valves and a respiration-gated venous outlet on every vessel. Without fitting the waveform or the contraction amplitude, the network settles into a bounded pumping cycle at the lymphovenous junction, at a clinical pressure of 7.5 to 12.3 mmHg and a drainage of 35 to 50 mm^3/s. Respiration adds a swing of 1 to 2.5 mmHg at the junction and contraction about 1 mmHg inside the duct. Pressure generation is limited more by load than by drive, and no single contraction amplitude fits every vessel. Raising the subclavian venous pressure from 3 to 15 mmHg lifts the deep cervical node from 8.6 to 21.1 mmHg at the weakest drive, a transmission of 1.04 that falls to 0.78 at the strongest, so contraction buffers cervical drainage against venous pressure. The same solver gives the human cervical outlet pressure that cerebrospinal-fluid drainage models prescribe.
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BibTeX
@misc{chang2026anatomically,
title = {{An anatomically grounded human-scale dynamic model of contraction-driven lymphatic pumping}},
author = {Chia-Feng Chang and Ayemon Baraka and Egor Sidorov and Sabee Molloi},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2610.12760},
eprint = {2610.12760},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.12760},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - An anatomically grounded human-scale dynamic model of contraction-driven lymphatic pumping
AU - Chia-Feng Chang
AU - Ayemon Baraka
AU - Egor Sidorov
AU - Sabee Molloi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2610.12760
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.12760
AB - Lymphangions, the valved muscular segments of lymphatic vessels, pump lymph against an adverse pressure gradient. Current models resolve this pumping in one vessel, a short chain or a regional network, and whole-body human models are passive. We extend the passive whole-body network of a companion static study to the active regime on the same anatomical graph, with intrinsic contraction, dynamic valves and a respiration-gated venous outlet on every vessel. Without fitting the waveform or the contraction amplitude, the network settles into a bounded pumping cycle at the lymphovenous junction, at a clinical pressure of 7.5 to 12.3 mmHg and a drainage of 35 to 50 mm^3/s. Respiration adds a swing of 1 to 2.5 mmHg at the junction and contraction about 1 mmHg inside the duct. Pressure generation is limited more by load than by drive, and no single contraction amplitude fits every vessel. Raising the subclavian venous pressure from 3 to 15 mmHg lifts the deep cervical node from 8.6 to 21.1 mmHg at the weakest drive, a transmission of 1.04 that falls to 0.78 at the strongest, so contraction buffers cervical drainage against venous pressure. The same solver gives the human cervical outlet pressure that cerebrospinal-fluid drainage models prescribe.
ER -