408 



LYMPHATIC GLAND. 



Between the surface of the follieular threads and the inner wall of all the spaces 

 of the gland, lies the lymph- channel or lymph-path (B, B), which is traversed by a 

 reticulum of adenoid tissue, containing relatively few lymph-corpuscles. It is very 

 probable that these lymph-paths are lined by endothelium (v. Reckliughausen). 



Fig. 163. 



Part of a lymphatic gland A, Vas afferens ; B, B, lymph-spaces within the gland; 

 a, a, septa or trabeculse seen on edge ; /,/, follieular strand from the medulla; 

 x, x, its adenoid reticulum ; b, its blood-vessels ; o, o, narrow meshed part 

 limiting the follieular strands from the lymph-space. 



The vasa affcrentia (Fig. 1C2, a, 0, of which there are usually several, expand upon 

 the surface of the gland, perforate the outer capsule, and pour their contents into the 

 lymph-paths (C) of the gland. The vasa e/erentia, which are less numerous than 

 the afferentia, and come out at the hilum, form large, wide, almost cavernous 

 dilatations, and they anastomose near the gland (e, I). Through them the lymph 

 passes out at the opposite surface of the gland. The lymph percolates through the 

 gland, and passes along the lymph-paths, which represent a kind of rete mirabile 

 interposed between the afferent and effei'ent lymph-vessels. 



During its passage through this complicated branched system of spaces, the 

 movement of the lymph through the gland is retarded, and, owing to the 

 numerous resistances which occur in its path, it has very little propulsive 

 energy. The lymph-corpuscles which lie in the meshes of the adenoid reticulum 

 are washed out of the gland by the lymph-stream (Briicke). The lymph-cor- 

 puscles lying within the follieular threads, pass through the narrow meshes (0) 



