THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. 



THE lymphatic system consists of two parts the lymph-channels 

 and their contents the jymph, and the lymphatic tissue. The 

 former may be represented by irregular interfascicular clefts between 

 the bundles of fibrous tissue or by vessels with well-defined walls, 

 while the latter may exist as diffuse adenoid tissue, the simple lym- 

 phatic nodule, or the complicated compound lymph-gland. 



THE LYMPH-CHANNELS. 



The lymphatic spaces, the radicles of the more distinct vessels, 

 are almost universally present, since they exist in almost every 

 locality where connective tissue abounds, forming intercommuni- 

 cating systems of greater or 



less perfection throughout the FIG. 135. 



various organs. The relation 

 between the connective jjggnp. 

 and the lymph-radicles is very 

 intimate, and it may be assumed 

 that all interfascicular clefts 

 are directly or indirectly con- 

 nected with the lymphatics. In 

 loose areolar tissues, as the sub- 

 cutaneous, the lymph-spaces 

 are ill-defined clefts, irregular 

 in form and size, which are 

 bounded by the neighboring 



Bundles of fibrous tissue and lined by an imperfect layer of endo- 

 thelioid connective-tissue cells. In the denser forms of fibrous 

 tissue, as the central tendon of the diaphragm, cornea, etc., the 

 lymph-spaces are more limited and form well-defined intercommuni- 

 cating systems of canals, or "juice-channels ;" of such the corneal 

 spaces and the bone-lacunae are familiar examples. 



These ^spaces are filled incompletely by the connective-tissue cor- 

 puscles, which usually are applied to one waJLof the cavity to form 

 a partial lining. The number of cells occupying a single space 

 varies : sometimes several lie side by side (kitten's cornea) united by 

 lines of cement-substance ; in such cases, after silvering, the cells 

 present the appearance of endothelial plates. The large serous 



Lymph-spaces between bundles of fibrous tissue 

 seen in profile, from the human cornea : b, b, bundles 

 of fibrous tissue ; s, lymph-spaces containing flattened 

 connective-tissue cells. 



