The objective of this study was to determine how isolated sheep prenodal popliteal lymphatic vessels responded to transmural and outflow pressure changes. Afferent lymphatics (0.5-1.0 mm diameter) were suspended in an organ bath with both inflow and outflow ends cannulated. Input to the duct was provided from a reservoir filled with Krebs solution. Two types of experiments were performed. In one group, a transmural pressure was applied to the ducts. In a second group of studies, the inflow pressure was fixed (at 2, 4, or 6 cmH2O) and the outflow pressure was increased in 4-cmH2O increments. The transmural pressure-flow relationship was expressed as a bell-shaped curve with pumping increasing up to 18-26 cmH2O and declining at higher pressures. Maximum flow rates averaged 1.4 +/- 0.6 ml/10 min. Greater than 50% of maximum pumping activity was available between approximately 12 and 43 cmH2O. In response to outflow pressures, variable responses were observed. In some vessels, elevations of outflow pressure had little impact on flow rates, until high outflow pressures were attained. In other ducts, pumping declined in response to outflow pressure challenge. With lower inflow pressures (2 or 4 cmH2O), flow rates occasionally increased with elevations of the outflow catheter. In ducts preset with inflow pressures of 6 cmH2O, the mean stop-flow pressure was 60 +/- 4.6 cmH2O. In comparison with previously published data on the pressure-flow relationships in postnodal lymphatics, prenodal vessels pumped over a larger range of transmural or outflow pressures.