Figure 2

Anatomical connections between the olfactory nerve and extracranial lymphatic vessels. In schematic (A) the lymphatics are connected directly with the CSF space. In A1, the lymphatic vessels form a collar around the emerging olfactory nerve root with the lymphatic endothelium fusing to the perineural sheath of the nerve and the periosteum or dura associated with the cribriform plate. In effect this lymphatic collar provides a 'seal' that ensures that little or no CSF enters the submucosal interstitium. In A2, the lymphatics join with the cribriform plate and nerve as above but in this scenario, a collar of CSF follows the nerve some distance into the submucosa. This CSF collar is delimited by the lymphatic vessel. As in the scenario outlined in A1, no CSF is permitted to enter the interstitium. In (B), the lymphatics are not connected directly with the olfactory nerves or cribriform plate but are interspersed throughout the olfactory submucosa. In this proposal, CSF must convect first into the interstitium of the submucosa from which it is absorbed into blind ending lymphatic vessels. (C) Uptake of Microfil by lymphatic vessels adjacent to cribriform plate. This histological section was stained with hematoxylin and eosin. In this example, yellow Microfil was infused into the CSF space (appears dark brown in section) and blue Microfil was injected into the arterial circulation. Distended lymphatic vessels containing Microfil are especially prominent in the area surrounding the olfactory nerve roots as they emerge from the cribriform plate (red arrows). Lymphatics are also observed fused to the olfactory nerves at discrete locations away from the cribriform plate (yellow arrows). Microfil is not observed free within the interstitium of the submucosa. Regarding the relationship between cranial CSF and lymph, examples such as this would appear to support the schema illustrated in A. BV – blood vessels.