354 THORACIC DUCT. 



to the splenic glands, and a fourth to the glands situated near the 

 pylorus and to the aortic glands. 



The Lymphatic glands of the small intestine are situated between 

 the layers of the mesentery, in the meshes formed by the superior 

 mesenteric artery, and thence named mesenteric glands. These 

 glands are most numerous and largest, superiorly, near to the 

 duodenum ; and, inferiorly, near to the termination of the ileum. 



The Lymphatic vessels of the small intestines are of two kinds : 

 those of the structure of the intestines, which ramify upon its sur- 

 face previously to entering the mesenteric glands ; and those which 

 commence in the villi, upon the surface of the mucous membrane, 

 and are named lacteals. 



The Lacteals according to the most recent and best researches 

 those of Dr. Henle of Berlin commence in the centre of each villus 

 as a coecal tubulus, which opens into a fine network, situated in the 

 submucous tissue. From this areolar network the lacteal vessels 

 proceed to the mesenteric glands, and from thence to the thoracic 

 duct, in which they terminate. 



The Lymphatic glands of the large intestines are situated along 

 the attached margin of the intestine, in the meshes formed by the 

 arteries previously to their distribution. The lymphatic vessels take 

 their course in two different directions ; those of the coecum, ascend- 

 ing and transverse colon, after traversing their proper glands, pro- 

 ceed to the mesenteric, and those of the descending colon and rectum 

 to the lumbar glands. 



The Lymphatic vessels of the kidney follow the direction of the 

 blood-vessels to the lumbar ganglia situated around the aorta and 

 inferior vena cava ; those of the supra-renal capsules, which are 

 very large and numerous, terminate in the renal lymphatics. 



The Lymphatic vessels of the viscera of the pelvis terminate in the 

 sacral and lumbar ganglia. 



The Lymphatic vessels of the testicle take the course of the sper- 

 matic cord where they are of large size, as is shown in the beautiful 

 injections made by Sir Astley Cooper ; they terminate in the lumbar 

 ganglia. 



THORACIC DUCT. 



The thoracic duct commences in the abdomen, by a considerable 

 and somewhat triangular dilatation, the receptaculum chyli, which is 

 situated upon the front of the body of the second lumbar vertebra, 

 behind and between the aorta and inferior vena cava, and close to 

 the tendon of the right crus of the diaphragm. From the upper 

 part of the receptaculum chyli, the thoracic duct ascends through 

 the aortic opening in the diaphragm, and along the front of the ver- 

 tebral column, lying between the thoracic aorta and vena azygos, to 

 the fourth dorsal vertebra. It then inclines to the left side, passes 

 behind the arch of the aorta, and ascends by the side of the ceso- 



