THE LYMPH GLANDS AND VESSELS OF THE THORACIC LIMB 605 



along the course of the gastro-epiploic and short gastric arteries in the great and 

 gastro-splenic omenta. The efferent vessels pass largely to the co'liac radicle of 

 the thoracic duct, but along the left part of the great curvature they go to the 

 splenic glands. 



2. The hepatic lymph glands (Lg. hepatici^e) lie along the portal vein and hepa- 

 tic artery and in the lesser omentum. Their efferent vessels go to the ca'liac 

 radicle of the cisterna chyli. 



Many of the lymph vessels from the parietal surface of the liver pass in the falciform and 

 lateral ligaments to the diaphragm and anastomose with its lymphatics. Some pass tlirough the 

 diaphragm with the vena cava and go to the mediastinal glands. 



The pancreatic lymph vessels follow the course of the blood-vessels which 

 supply the gland; most of them go to the splenic and hepatic glands. 



3. The splenic lymph glands (Lg. lienales) lie along the course of the splenic 

 blood-vessels. Their afferent vessels come from the subscapular network of 

 the spleen, from the greater curvature of the stomach, and from the left part of 

 the pancreas. The efferents pass to the coeliac radicle of the thoracic duct. 



4. The mesenteric lymph glands (Lg. mesentericae) are situated in the great 

 mesentery near its root. They are numerous and hence lie close together. They 

 receive a very large number of afferent vessels (400 to 500) from the small intestine. 

 They have several considerahle efferents which concur in the formation of the in- 

 testinal radicles of the cisterna chyli. 



The lymph vessels of the intestine form three sets of capillary plexuses, viz., in the subserosa, 

 submucosa, and mucosa. The lymph follicles, solitary and aggregate, lie in the zone of the plexus 

 of the mucosa. The collecting vessels arise from the subserous plexus. 



5. The lymph glands of the caecum are numerous and are distributed along the 

 course of the caecal blood-vessels. Their efferents enter into the formation of an 

 intestinal radicle of the cisterna chyli. 



6. The lymph glands of the great colon are extremely numerous and are placed 

 close together along the colic blood-vessels. Their efferent vessels are large and 

 numerous. They converge to two large trunks which concur with those of the 

 caecum and small intestine to form an intestinal radicle of the cisterna chyli. 



The intestinal radicles of the cisterna chyli are formed by the confluence of efferents from 

 the intestinal lymph glands. The anterior trunk lies on the left side of the anterior mesenteric 

 artery, passes between that vessel and the cceliac artery, turns sharply backward across the right 

 renal vessels and opens into the cisterna. It is formed by the union of the coeliac trunk with 

 efferents from the glands of the small intestine, caecum and colon. It is about four inches (ca. 

 10 cm.) in length and is ampullate. The posterior trunk receives vessels from the small intestine 

 and small colon. It usually opens into a trunk formed by the union of the right and left lumbar 

 ducts. It is usually ampullate at its termination (Franck). The arrangement of these collecting 

 trunks is, however, ^'ery variable. 



7. The lymph glands of the small colon are situated in part on the wall of the 

 bowel along the attachment of the mesentery, in part between the layers of the 

 latter along the course of the blood-vessels. The efferent vessels go to the lumbar 

 glands and to the posterior intestinal radicle of the thoracic duct. 



The lymph vessels of the rectum pass chiefly to the lumbar and internal iliac 

 glands. 



8. The anal lymph glands (Lg. anales) form a small group on either side of the 

 sphincter ani externus (Figs. 451, 453). They receive afferents from the anus, 

 perineum, and tail. Their efferents go to the internal iliac glands. 



THE LYMPH GLANDS AND VESSELS OF THE THORACIC LIMB 



1. The axillary lymph glands (Lg. axillares), some ten to twelve in number, are 

 grouped on the inner face of the distal part of the teres major and the tendon of 

 the latissimus dorsi at the angle of junction of the external thoracic and subscapular 



