Biomaterial Database

The relationship between subcutaneous tissue pressures and intramuscular pressures in normal and edematous legs. 1985

J T Christenson, and N J Shawa, and M M Hamad, and H K Al-Hassan

The interstitial hydrostatic pressure is affecting fluid movements at microvascular level. A disturbance in the Starling equilibrium results in edema formation. The effect of venous outflow and lymphatic obstructions in human, on the interstitial fluid pressures subcutaneously and intramuscularly and the possible interaction between veins and lymphatics was studied. Utilizing a slit-catheter technique, subcutaneous tissue and intramuscular pressures were measured bilaterally in 10 patients with venous outflow obstruction and in 10 patients with lymphatic obstruction. In lymphatic obstruction the subcutaneous tissue pressure was significantly elevated as well as the intramuscular pressure, while in venous obstruction the subcutaneous tissue pressure was normal. The intramuscular pressure was significantly elevated during exercise reaching 60 mm Hg or more, combined with severe pain. Pain did not occur in patients with lymphatic obstruction. This study suggests that in lymphatic obstruction there is also an involvement of either deep lymphatics, venous dysfunction or a combination of both. Intramuscular pressures do not reach the critical level for pain during exercise. In venous obstruction mainly the intramuscular compartment is involved and interstitial pressure reaches values well above 60 mm Hg during exercise, at which level pain occurs, possibly due to tension of painreceptors in the muscle fascias.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007866	Leg	The inferior part of the lower extremity between the KNEE and the ANKLE.	Legs
D008209	Lymphedema	Edema due to obstruction of lymph vessels or disorders of the lymph nodes.	Milroy's Disease,Congenital Familial Lymphedema,Congenital Hereditary Lymphedema,Early Onset Lymphedema,Hereditary Lymphedema,Hereditary Lymphedema 1,Hereditary Lymphedema Type I,Lymphedema, Early-Onset,Lymphedema, Hereditary, Ia,Milroy Disease,Nonne-Milroy Disease,Nonne-Milroy Lymphedema,Nonne-Milroy-Meige Disease,Primary Congenital Lymphedema,Congenital Hereditary Lymphedemas,Congenital Lymphedema, Primary,Congenital Lymphedemas, Primary,Early Onset Lymphedemas,Early-Onset Lymphedema,Early-Onset Lymphedemas,Hereditary Lymphedema 1s,Hereditary Lymphedema, Congenital,Hereditary Lymphedemas,Hereditary Lymphedemas, Congenital,Lymphedema, Congenital Hereditary,Lymphedema, Early Onset,Lymphedema, Hereditary,Lymphedema, Nonne-Milroy,Lymphedema, Primary Congenital,Lymphedemas,Lymphedemas, Congenital Hereditary,Lymphedemas, Early Onset,Lymphedemas, Early-Onset,Lymphedemas, Hereditary,Lymphedemas, Primary Congenital,Milroys Disease,Nonne Milroy Disease,Nonne Milroy Lymphedema,Nonne Milroy Meige Disease,Primary Congenital Lymphedemas
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D011312	Pressure	A type of stress exerted uniformly in all directions. Its measure is the force exerted per unit area. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Pressures
D003238	Connective Tissue	Tissue that supports and binds other tissues. It consists of CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS embedded in a large amount of EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX.	Connective Tissues,Tissue, Connective,Tissues, Connective
D004487	Edema	Abnormal fluid accumulation in TISSUES or body cavities. Most cases of edema are present under the SKIN in SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE.	Dropsy,Hydrops,Anasarca
D005110	Extracellular Space	Interstitial space between cells, occupied by INTERSTITIAL FLUID as well as amorphous and fibrous substances. For organisms with a CELL WALL, the extracellular space includes everything outside of the CELL MEMBRANE including the PERIPLASM and the cell wall.	Intercellular Space,Extracellular Spaces,Intercellular Spaces,Space, Extracellular,Space, Intercellular,Spaces, Extracellular,Spaces, Intercellular
D005260	Female		Females