THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. 



121 



the exterior. The details of arrangement distinguishing these portions 

 of the gland depend primarily upon the distribution of the trabeculae 

 which continue the tissue of the capsule into all parts of the organ. 



The trabeculae, composed of stout bundles of fibrous tissue, ex- 

 tend from the inner surface of the capsule towards the hilum and 

 divide the cortex into a number of imperfect spherical compartments 

 which enclose masses of adenoid tissue, the cortical follicles, which 

 correspond to simple lymph-follicles. The continuations of the tra- 

 beculae towards the centre of the gland unite at much more frequent 

 intervals and form throughout the medulla a series of incomplete par- 

 titions which separate imperfect compartments occupied by elongated 

 masses of adenoid tissue, the med- 

 ullary cords. These latter and FIG. 147. 

 the cortical follicles constitute one 

 continuous mass of dense lymphoid 



FIG. 146. 



Section of lymphatic gland of child, in- 

 cluding portion of medulla : t, part of tra- 

 becula, on either side of which narrow 

 lymph-sinuses are seen, bounded by denser 

 structure of medullary cords (/). 



Portion of human lymph-gland, showing de- 

 tails of structure : a, lymph-sinus ; b, adenoid 

 tissue ; c, trabeculae ; d, coarser reticulum of 

 lymph-sinus ; e, expanded connective-tissue 

 plate applied to fibres ; f, lymphoid cells. 



tissue, which follows the contours of the spaces occupied, but does not 

 completely fill the compartments formed by the fibrous trabeculae. 



The spaces included between the fibrous trabeculae and the masses 

 of dense adenoid tissue are occupied by a very loose reticulum and 

 sparingly distributed lymphoid cells ; these channels are the lymph- 

 sinuses, into which the lymph brought by the peripherally-situ- 

 ated afferent vessels is poured and through which it finds its sluggish 

 course, thus securing the opportunity of taking, up numerous new 

 cells in its journey through the organ. The lymph-sinuses form a 

 freely intercommunicating system of canals throughout the gland, 

 beginning at the periphery, where they receive the afferent lymph- 

 vessels, and ending in the hilum, where the lymph is collected and 

 carried off by the efferent trunks. 



