ABSORBENTS OF THE LOWER EXTREMITIES. 293 



the trunk, traverse the axillary glands, and are successively re- 

 duced in number to four or five voluminous trunks, which sur- 

 round the subclavian artery. While in the axilla they are re- 

 enforced by the deep lymphatics from beneath the pectoralis 

 major, the latissimus dorsi, and the shoulder. Their number 

 being again reduced, they go along the subclavian vein over the 

 first rib; those of the left side open either into the thoracic duct 

 at its termination, or into the subclavian vein near it; but those 

 on the right are finally assembled into the single large trunk, 

 brachio-cephalic, which discharges into the angle of junction 

 of the right internal jugular and subclavian vein. 



Absorbent Glands of the Upper Extremity. 



These glands are rarely found on the fore arm, but when they 

 do exist, it is in the course of the deep absorbents, and they are 

 very small, and but few. From one to four are found scattered 

 on the front of the elbow and internal condyle. From four 

 to seven exist along the sheath of the brachial vessels and 

 nerves. 



The axillary glands are very numerous, and of different sizes; 

 they are dispersed throughout the cellular substance of the ax- 

 illa, reposing on the serratus major anticus, between the pecto- 

 ral muscles and those of the shoulder, and being, for the most 

 part, below the axillary vessels and nerves, but some reposing 

 immediately upon them, and forming a chain from the lower 

 part of the axilla to the clavicle. Their number is from fifteen 

 to thirty-five or forty. All the absorbents which observe the 

 route of the axilla to reach the thoracic duct have to pass through 

 these glands. 



SECT. III. ABSORBENTS OF THE INFERIOR EXTREMITIES, AND OF THE 



CONTIGUOUS PARTS OF THE TRUNK OF THE BODY. 



The superficial absorbents, like those of the upper extremity, 

 are placed between the skin and the aponeurosis, in the cellular 

 tissue that contains the subcutaneous veins. They are also very 

 abundant, and are found every few lines on the circumference 



20* 



