Figure 1.

Schematic diagram of macro-anatomy of hepatic lymphatic vascular system. (1) Lymphatic capillaries in the portal tract coalesce into collecting vessels, which drain to lymph nodes at the hepatic hilum and the lesser omentum. Efferent lymphatic vessels (LV) from these lymph nodes connect to celiac lymph nodes, which drain to the cisterna chyli, the enlarged origin of the thoracic duct. Lymphatic fluid through the thoracic duct drains to the left subclavicular vein and returns to the systemic blood circulation. (2) Lymphatic vessels along the central vein (CV) converge into large lymphatic vessels along the hepatic vein (HV), which then traverse along the inferior vena cava (IVC) through the diaphragm toward mediastinal lymph nodes. (3) Lymphatic fluid running underneath the capsule of the convex surface of the liver (3i) drains to mediastinal lymph nodes through the coronary ligament, whereas that of the concave surface (3ii) drains to lymph nodes of the hepatic hilum and regional lymph nodes. BD, bile duct; HA, hepatic artery; LN, lymph node; PV, portal vein.