The mucosal lymph bed of the calf omasum
Hampl, A.; Slezáková, Z.
Folia Morphologica 25(2): 107-110
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0015-5640 PMID: 873385 Document Number: 117978
The lymph bed in the calf omasum consists of capillaries and efferent postcapillaries. The capillaries in the laminae and crests form two two-dimensional networks situated in the subepithelial propria. The wide capillaries of the large loops of these networks are 20 mu m in diameter, while the fine capillaries of the smaller loops and the blind processes are 14 mu m in diameter. At the base of the small laminar papillae, the capillaries form regular round or oval loops, while a whole fine network protrudes into the large papillae in the form of little "baskets". Fusion of the capillaries constituting the network results in the formation of longitudinally oriented thick capillaries 40 mu m in diameter and of thinner capillaries 23 mu m in diameter, which join the postcapillaries. The postcapillaries lie deep in the wall of the lamina, run perpendicular to its base and are connected to the submucosal plexus. They are up to 460 mu m wide, contain valves and are distributed in the laminae at regular intervals, either singly or in groups. The capillary network of the interlaminar crests is simpler and only occasionally contains regular loops and postcapillaries.