870 THE VASCULAR SYSTEM. 
the outer and inner borders of the foot and join the dorsal plexus, whilst others pass 
up the lee with the efferent vessels from the dorsal plexus. 
The efferent vessels from the dorsal lymphatic plexus of the foot form two 
groups, an inner and an outer. The inner vessels are the more numerous, and 
they are joined by additional vessels from the inner part of the sole and heel. 
Some of them pass upwards in front of and others behind the internal malleolus ; 
in the leg they accompany the internal saphenous vein, and they terminate in the 
lower or femoral set of superficial glands. The outer group of vessels is reinforced 
by tributaries from the outer side of the sole and heel, most of the vessels of 
this group pass upwards in front of the external malleolus, but some go behind 
that prominence of bone ; they gradually turn inwards as they ascend, and, passing 
across the front of the leg, they jom the internal group, being first reinforced by 
numerous additional vessels from the front and outer side of the leg, and they 
terminate with the vessels of the inner group in the superficial femoral ‘glands. 
A few vessels of the outer group, and one or two large vessels which rise from 
the back of the heel and the lower part of the leg, ascend along the external 
saphenous vein, pierce the popliteal fascia, and terminate in the popliteal 
glands. 
The superficial lymphatic vessels from the front, the lower and outer, lower 
and inner, and the back parts of the thigh and knee, terminate in the superficial 
femoral glands. The vessels from the upper and outer parts of the thigh and 
from the buttock end in the superficial inguinal glands, and those from the 
upper portions of the inner and back parts of the thigh in the superficial pubic 
glands. 
(2) Deep Vessels.—The deep lymphatics of the lower extremity commence in 
the bones, periosteum, ligaments, muscles, and deep connective tissue. They follow 
the main arteries, and they terminate in the anterior tibial, popliteal, and deep 
femoral glands. 
The vessels which terminate in the anterior tibial gland have already been 
mentioned. ‘ 
The majority of the deep vessels from the sole accompany the plantar arteries ; 
they ascend in the leg along the posterior tibial vessels, and are joined by the deep 
lymphatics of the back of the lee which accompany the peroneal and posterior 
tibial arteries. At the lower border of the popliteus the deep vessels of the back 
of the leg meet the efferent vessels from the anterior tibial gland and ascend with 
them to the popliteal glands. 
The deep lymphatics of the front of the thigh and the efferents of the 
popliteal glands end in the deep femoral glands; those of the upper part of 
the back of the thigh and buttock accompany the sciatic and gluteal vessels, and 
terminate in the internal iliac elands; the deep vessels which originate amidst 
the upper portions of the adductor muscles and their surroundings accompany 
the obturator vessels, and terminate in the obturator or in the ‘internal iliae 
glands. 
THE LYMPHATIC GLANDS AND VESSELS OF THE ABDOMEN AND 
PELVIS. 
The superficial lymphatics of the abdominal wall have already been sufficiently 
referred to as afferent vessels of the axillary glands and of the superficial glands 
of the groin. 
Deep Lymphatic Glands and Vessels.—The lymphatic glands of the abdomen 
and pelvis are arranged in two main groups, (1) the visceral glands and (2) the 
parietal glands. The visceral glands le in close relation with the walls of the 
viscera or in the folds of peritoneum, by which the viscera are either connected 
together or attached to the walls of the abdomen or pelvis; they receive the 
majority of the lymphatic vessels from the viscera with which they are associated. 
The parietal glands lie between the peritoneum and the walls of the abdomen and 
pelvis; they receive deep vessels from the abdominal and pelvic parietes, and from 
the deep parts of the thigh and buttock. They also receive efferent lymphatics 
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