2&i Lafteals. [Book IX. 



parricularly the jejunum j patting in their courfe 

 through conglobate glands, they advance between the 

 laminae of the mefentery towards the fecond or third 

 lumbar vertebra, where they meet with the lympha- 

 tics of the lower extremities. 



Of thefe Ibme are fuperficial, and others deeply 

 feated. The former chiefly lie at -the infide of the 

 leg and thigh, and follow the courfe of the vena 

 faphena major. In the groin they pafs through lym- 

 phatic glands. Being joined by the lymphatics of the 

 lower part of the abdomen, they pafs under the liga- 

 ment of Fallopius. The lymphatics of the lower 

 extremities and pelvis, and the lacteals from the in- 

 teftines, form the beginning of the thoracic duel:. 

 This veflel alfo receives the lymph from the other 

 abdominal vifcera. 



The thoracic duct, fo called from its courfe through 

 the thorax, ufually begins about the fecond or third 

 lumbar vertebra. It is of different fizes in different 

 fubjects, and is fometimes extended at its lower part into 

 a pyriform bag, called the receptaculum chyli ; but in 

 general there is no enlargement fo remarkable as to de- 

 ferve a particular name. The thoracic duct fometimes 

 divides and again unites. At its beginning, it is 

 fituated at the right fide of the aorta. It is afterwards 

 obferved in the thorax, lying between the aorta and 

 vena azygos. It "afcends as high as the fixth vertebra 

 of the neck, where, forming an arch, it turns down- 

 wards and enters the left fubclavian vein near the in- 

 fertion of the internal jugular. 



The thoracic duct is furniflied with few valves, and 

 thefe are placed without much regularity. At the 

 place, however, where it is inferted into the fubcla- 

 vian vein, there is a circular valve, which prevents 

 the blood from getting into it. 



Bt fides 



