32 



GENERAL STRUCTURE OF THE BODY. 



tebra with a bulb-like reservoir for the lymph or chyle, 

 the receptaculum chyli, and extends up along the spi- 

 nal column for a distance of about eighteen inches to the 

 seventh cervical vertebra, where, with the right lym- 

 phatic duct, it empties into the left subclavian vein at its 

 junction with the internal jugular, thus establishing direct 

 communication between the lymph spaces and the ve- 

 nous system. The orifices of both vessels are guarded 

 by semi-lunar valves to prevent regurgitation of the 

 blood. 



The lymphatic glands are small oval glandular bodies 

 and occur here and there along the course of the lymph- 



skin reflected. 

 Pectoralis major. 

 Central group of glands 



Cephalic vein. 



Basilic vein. 

 Intercostohumeral nerve. 



Auxiliary fascia. 

 Long thoracic vein. 



FIG. 9. Central (superficial) lymphatic glands of the axilla. (After Leaf.) 



atics. Before entering one of them the vessel breaks 

 up into several afferent vessels which form a plexus 

 within and then emerge again as several efferent vessels 

 which soon unite to form one trunk. These glands oc- 

 cur chiefly in the mesentery, along the great vessels, 

 and in the mediastinum, axilla, neck, elbow, groin, and 

 popliteal space. 



The lymph varies in character with the locality, being 

 a little thicker and more opalescent in the lacteals, as 

 the lymphatics of the small intestine are called, especi- 



