516 THE ABSORBENT VESSELS. 



The superficial lymphatics of the upper limb are UBually de- 

 scribed as forming two diyisions corresponding with the superficial 

 veins on the outer and inner borders. On the front of the limb they 

 arise from an arch formed in the palm of the hand by the union of two 

 lymphatic vessels proceeding from each finger : becoming more nu- 

 merous in the forearm, they are found thickly set over its surface, 

 whence they pass upwards in the arm ; the inner vessels in a straight 

 direction, and those placed further outwards inclining gradually in- 

 wards over the biceps muscle to reach the axillary glands. On the back 

 of the hand also two lymphatics proceed fi'om each finger ; and from 

 the copious network on the back of the forearm vessels pass over the 

 radial margin, and in greater number round the ulnar side to join those 

 in front. The lymphatic vessels in the front of the upper arm are also 

 joined by others which pass round each side of the limb, and by some 

 which descend from the shoulder. 



The deep lymphatics of the upper limb correspond with the 

 deep blood-vessels. In the j'.nearm they consist, therefore, of three 

 sets, associated respectively with the radial, ulnar, and interosseous 

 arteries and veins. In their progress upwards some of them have com- 

 munication near the wrist with the superficial lymphatics ; and some of 

 them enter the glands which lie by the side of the brachial artery 

 near the bend of the elbow. They all terminate m the glands of the 

 axilla. 



The superficial lymphatics of the chest consist of branches running 

 nuder cover of the pectoral muscleS; and of subcutaneous vessels, twigs 

 of which are continued fi'om those on the abdominal wall as low as the 

 umbilicus, decussating with tiie vessels which converge to the inguinal 

 glands. 



The superficial lymphatics of the back converge to the axillary 

 glands from its various regions ; from the neck over the surface of the 

 trapezius muscle, from the posterior part of the deltoid, and from the 

 whole dorsal and lumbar regions as low as the crest of the ilium ; the 

 branches decussating infenoily with vessels leading to the inguinal 

 glands, and likewise cross lUi: the middle line so as to decussate with 

 branches of the opposite side. (Mascagni, Tab. xxii., xxiii., xxiv.) 



LYMPHATICS OF THE HEAD AISTD NECK. 



The lymphatic glands found on difierent pans of the head and face 

 are few and small : those in the neclc, on the contrary, are comparatively 

 very large and numerous. 



The cervical glands are placed chiefly on the sides of the neck, and 

 are divisible into a superficial and a deep series. Of the former, some 

 lie beneath the base of the inferior maxillary bone ; the remainder, 

 arranged along the course of the external jugular vein, exist m greatest 

 number in the angular space behind the lower end of the sterno-mastoid 

 muscle, where that vein enters the subclavian vein ; at this point the 

 cervical glands approach and are connected with the glands of the 

 axilla. The deej) cervical glands are placed along the carotid artery and 

 internal jugular vem, extending downwards on the sheath of those 

 vessels as far as the thorax. 



The lymphatic vessels of the cranium and face, together with those of 

 the tongue, pharynx, larynx and other parts of the neck, pass into the 



