ABSORBENTS OF THE LOWER EXTREMITIES. 295 



There are two or three lymphatic vessels on each side of the 

 penis, which begin at its glans and prepuce, and traversing the 

 length of this organ, wind above the external abdominal ring to 

 join the nearest inguinal gland. There are several from the side 

 of the scrotum and perineum, which ascend along the chord and 

 thigh to join also the nearest inguinal gland. In the female, 

 those of the labia externa and clitoris correspond with those of 

 the scrotum and penis. 



The superficial absorbent trunks, from the lower front of the 

 abdomen, are not numerous; they descend and converge also 

 to the inguinal glands. Some of those from the loins, such as 

 do not ascend to the axilla, advance to the inguinal glands. 

 Those of the buttocks do the same. 



Absorbent Glands of the Lower Extremities. 



Absorbent Glands, below the knee, are not abundant, or, in- 

 deed, very common ; yet, one or two exist sometimes in the 

 course of the anterior tibial artery in the upper part of the leg. 

 The popliteal glands are three or four; they are small, and 

 scattered at wide intervals in the fat of the ham around its ves- 

 sels. From the latter to the groin, they are uot usually found 

 at all. 



The Inguinal Glands are amongst the largest in the system; 

 they repose along the anterior margin of Poupart's ligament and 

 a little below, and are readily felt beneath the skin. The su- 

 perficial vary in number, in different individuals, from seven to 

 twenty, being more numerous as they are smaller, and are 

 placed between the laminae of the fascia superficial. They 

 receive, first of all, the superficial lymphatics of all the parts 

 mentioned. The deep-seated are smaller, are a little lower 

 down on the thigh, and lie along the course of the femoral ar- 

 tery, beneath the aponeurosis of the thigh ; they are from three 

 to seven in number, but are much less constant than the super- 

 ficial. 



