ORGANS OF THE CHEST. 



The right lymphatic duct receives the lymphatics of the 

 right side of the chest, right lung, right diaphragm, right 

 upper extremity, right neck, and head, is about an inch in 

 length, and enters the angle formed by the junction of the 

 right subclavian and internal jugular veins. 



This is the most common disposition of the two thoracic 

 ducts, but there occasionally occur varieties in their origin, 

 course, and termination. 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE ^ORGANS OF THE TRUNK. 



THIRD DIVISION. 

 ORGANS OF THE CHEST. 



IN the physiological order these organs are divided into 

 the organs of respiration, and the organs of circulation. 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHEST. 



The cavity of the chest or thorax occupies an inter- 

 mediate situation and size, in comparison with the other 

 two great cavities of the trunk, the cranial and abdom- 

 inal, and intermediate also in relation to the structure of 

 its walls; for while those of the abdomen consist in great 

 measure of soft parts, and those of the head of a hard and 

 complete bony case, the walls of the thorax, on the other 

 hand, combine the properties of both, in consisting of hard 

 and soft parts in nearly equal proportions, and thus har- 

 moniously blending the fixed and dilatable conditions of 

 each. 



Some general remarks have already been made under the 

 head of passive organs of the trunk, where it was stated 

 that the thoracic cavity presented the form of a truncated 

 cone, with the apex above and base below, flattened before 

 and behind, and convex at the sides; that its form and 

 diameters are liable to variation both from disease and 



