Modeling Transport Mechanisms in Cervical Lymphatic Vessels using 2D Fluid-Structure Interaction

Cervical lymphatic vessels (CLVs) transport cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain to the lymph nodes, contributing to brain homeostasis. This drainage pathway has recently attracted significant attention due to its implications in traumatic brain injury and age-related neurological diseases. In this study, we developed a two-dimensional numerical model of the CLVs using the immersed boundary method, with the Lattice Boltzmann method employed to solve the fluid dynamics. The solver is fully parallelized for efficient computation and large-scale parameter sweeps. The model geometry was designed to capture key anatomica features of mouse CLVs. Using this framework, we investivated the efficacy of intrinsic pumping in CLVs and the functional dynamics of bileaflet valves. This model provides mechanistic insight into the physiological phenomena underlying CSF drainage through the cervical lymphatic system.