Lymphatic vessels in health and disease

The lymphatic vasculature plays vital roles in tissue fluid balance, immune defense, metabolism, and cancer metastasis. In adults, lymphatic vessel formation and remodeling occur primarily during inflammation, development of the corpus luteum, wound healing, and tumor growth. Unlike the blood circulation, where unidirectional flow is sustained by the pumping actions of the heart, pumping actions intrinsic to the lymphatic vessels themselves are important drivers of lymphatic flow. This review summarizes critical components that control lymphatic physiology. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2013, 5:111124. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1201 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.