700 



ANGIOLOGY 





vein. The efferent vessels pass partly to the central and subclavicular groups of 

 axillary glands and partly to the inferior deep cervical glands. 



2. An anterior or pectoral group consists of four or five glands along the lower 

 border of the Pectoralis minor, in relation with the lateral thoracic artery. Their 

 afferents drain the skin and muscles of the anterior and lateral thoracic walls, 

 and the central and lateral parts of the namma ; their eff erents pass partly to the 

 central and partly to the subclavicular groups of axillary glands. 



3. A posterior or subscapular group of six or seven glands is placed along the lower 

 margin of the posterior wall of the axilla in the course of the subscapular artery. 

 The afferents of this group drain the skin and muscles of the lower part of the back 

 of the neck and of the posterior thoracic wall; their efferents pass to the central 

 group of axillary glands. 



4. A central or intermediate group of three or four large glands is imbedded in 

 the adipose tissue near the base of the axilla. Its afferents are the efferent vessels 

 of all the preceding groups of axillary glands; its efferents pass to the subclavicular 

 group. 



5. A medial or subclavicular group of six to twelve glands is situated partly 

 posterior to the upper portion of the Pectoralis minor and partly above the upper 

 border of this muscle. Its only direct territorial afferents are those which accompany 

 the cephalic vein and one \vhich drains the upper peripheral part of the mamma, 

 but it receives the efferents of all the other axillary glands. The efferent vessels 



of the subclavicular group unite to 

 form the subclavian trunk, which opens 

 either directly into the junction of 

 the internal jugular and subclavian 

 veins or into the jugular lymphatic 

 trunk; on the left side it may end in 

 the thoracic duct. A few efferents 

 from the subclavicular glands usually 

 pass to the inferior deep cervical 

 glands. 



The Lymphatic Vessels of the 

 Upper Extremity. 



The lymphatic vessels of the upper 

 extremity are divided into two sets, 

 superficial and deep. 



The superficial lymphatic vessels 

 commence (Fig. 608) in the lymphatic 

 plexus which everywhere pervades 

 the skin; the meshes of the plexus are 

 much finer in the palm and on the 

 flexor aspect of the digits than else- 

 \vhere. The digital plexuses are drained 

 by a pair of vessels which run on 

 the sides of each digit, and incline 

 backward to reach the dorsum of the 

 hand. From the dense plexus of the 

 palm, vessels pass in different direc- 

 tions, viz., upward toward the wrist, 

 downward to join the digital vessels, 

 medialward to join the vessels on the ulnar border of the hand, and latefalward to 

 those on the thumb. Several vessels from the central part of the plexus unite to 



Fio. 



608. Lymphatic vessels of the dorsal surface of the 

 hand. (Sappey.) 



