512 THE ABSORBENT VESSELS. 



left lateral ligament pierce the diaphragm, and, turning forwards, end 

 in the anterior glands of the mediastinum. 4. Finally, along the fore 

 part of the liver some vessels vrill be observed to turn downwards and 

 join those placed upon the under surface. 



The vnder suyface of the liver is covered by an open network of lym- 

 phatic vessels. On the right lobe they are directed over and under the 

 gall-bladder to the transverse fissure, where some join the deep lym- 

 phatics ; whilst others, passing through some scattered lymphatic 

 glands, are guided by the hepatic artery to the right side of the aorta, 

 where they terminate in the thoracic duct. Branches also proceed to 

 the concave border of the stomach, between the folds of the small 

 omentum, to join with the coronary lymphatics of that organ. 



The deep himpliati.cs of the liver accompany the branches of the portal 

 vein in the substance of the organ, and pass out of the gland by the 

 transverse fissure. After communicating with the superficial lym- 

 phatics, and also with those of the stomach, they pass backwards, and 

 join, at tlie side of the cceliac artery, with one of the large lacteal trunks 

 previously to its termination in the thoracic duct. 



The lymphatics of the Mdiiey likewise consist of a deep and a super- 

 ficial set. Those placed upon the surface of the organ are compara- 

 tively small ; they unite at the hilus of the kidney with other lym- 

 phatics from the substance of the gland, and then pass inwards to the 

 lumbar lymphatic glands. The lymphatics of the siiprarenaJ capsules 

 unite with those of the kidney. The lymphatic vessels of tlie vreter 

 are numerous ; they communicate with those of the kidney and bladder, 

 and for the most part terminate by union witli the former. 



The lymphatics of the bla-dder, taking rise from the entire surface 

 of that organ, enter the glands placed near the internal iliac artery ; 

 with these are associated the lymphatics of tlie prostate gland and 

 vesicular scminnlcs. 



The lymphatics of the uterus, in the unimpregnated state of the 

 organ, are small, but during the period of gestation they are greatly 

 enlarged. Issuing from the entire substance of the uterus, tlie greater 

 number descend, together with those of the vagina, and pass backwards 

 to enter the glands upon the internal iliac artery ; thus following the 

 course of the principal uterine blood-vessels. Others, proceeding from 

 the upper end of the uterus, run outwards in the folds of peritoneum 

 which constitute the broad ligaments, and join the lymphatics derived 

 from the ovaries and Fallopian tubes. The conjoined vessels then ascend 

 with the ovarian arteries, near the origin of which they terminate 

 in the lymphatic vessels and glands placed on the aorta and vena cava. 



The lymphatics of the testicle commence in the substance of the 

 gland, and upon the surface of the tunica vaginalis. Collected into 

 several large trunks, they ascend with the other constituents of the 

 spermatic cord, pass through the inguinal canal, and accompany the 

 spermatic vessels in the abdomen to enter some of the lumbar lym- 

 phatic glands. 



LYMPHATICS OP THE THORAX. 



The lymphatic glands of the thorax. — Along the course of the 

 internal mammary blood-vessels there are placed six or seven small 

 glands, through which pass the lymphatics situated behind the sternum; 



