ABSORBENTS OF THE UPPER PART OF THE TRUNK. 365 



Some of these vessels have been discovered in the cavity of the 

 cranium; but very little precise information has as yet been 

 obtained, respecting the extent, or arrangement of the absorb- 

 ent system, in this part of the body. 



The absorbents on the exterior of the head are as numerous 

 as in other parts of the body. On the occiput they pass down, 

 inclining towards the ear, and continue behind it to the side of 

 the neck ; behind the ear they pass through several glands. 

 From the middle or temporal region of the cranium, they pass 

 with the carotid artery before the ear, and enter some small 

 glands that lie on the parotid ; from which they continue to 

 the neck. 



They are on every part of the face, and unite, so that their 

 principal trunks, which are very numerous, pass over the basis 

 of the lower jaw, near the facial artery. They enter into 

 glands, which are also very numerous, immediately under the 

 jaw, or which are sometimes to be found on the cheek, at the 

 anterior edge of the masseter muscle. All the absorbents of 

 the exterior part of the head pass to the glands on the side of 

 the neck, already described. 



Those from the interior of the nose accompany the ramifica- 

 tions of the internal maxillary artery, and proceed to glands 

 behind the angle of the lower jaw ; into which glands also enter 

 the absorbents of the tongue and inner parts of the mouth. 



The absorbents of the thyroid gland, on the left side, pass 

 down to the thoracic duct ; those on the right, unite to the 

 trunk of the absorbents on that side, near its termination. It 

 has been remarked, that they can be readily injected, by 

 thrusting the pipe into the substance of the gland. 



Of the Absorbents of the Arm and Upper Part of the Trunk, 



The absorbents of the arm are superficial and deep-seated, 

 like those of the lower extremity. 



The superficial absorbents have been injected on the ante- 

 rior and posterior surfaces of the fingers and the thumb, near 

 their sides. On the back of the hand they are very numerous, 

 and increase considerably in their progress up the fore-arm. 

 31* 



