154 



LYMPHATICS. 



LOWER EXTREMITY. 



The superficial veins of the lower extremity are two in number. 



Internal saphena. — Commencing upon the inside of the foot and 

 ankle it ascends upon the inside of the leg, and passing over the 

 internal condyle, it traverses the superficial fascia of the thigh and 

 enters the femoral vein at the saphenous opening of the fascia lata. 



External saphena. — Commencing upon the outer and posterior 

 parts of the foot, it ascends upon the back of the leg and enters the 

 popliteal vein above the knee. 



ropliteal, is formed by the junction of the deep veins accompany- 

 ing the anterior and posterior tibial arteries. 



Femoral vein. — The deep veins of the leg and thigh unite to form 

 the femoral vein, which passes under Poupart's ligament, to become 

 the external iliac vein. It is upon the inside of the femoral artery, 



and forms the outer boundary of the 

 Fig. 136. pj-^^^-ai i^ina. 



LYMPHATICS. 



Lymphatics are small pellucid ves- 

 sels found in all portions of the body 

 but the teeth. They are exceedingly 

 numerous, and found most constantly in 

 company with veins. 



They enter the lymphatic glands, 

 which are most numerous in the neck, 

 groin, axilla, loins, and mesentery, and 

 then emerge from them. 



The lymphatics of the intestine, com- 

 mence in the villi of the intestine and 

 are often called lactcals, and contain the 

 chyle. 



They have three coats, like arteries, 

 and present a knotted appearance when 

 distended, owing to the existence of 

 sinuses and valves. 



ZfCft thoracic duct.^^ — This is the 

 principal lymphatic vessel of the body; 

 it receives the contents of the lymphatics 

 or absorbents of the lower extremity, 

 by an enlargement called receptaculum 

 chyli^^^ and entering the thorax through 

 the hiatus aorticus ; it traverses the tho- 

 rax through the posterior mediastinum 

 in front of the vertebral column, and 

 between the vena azygos*'' and aorta.^ 



