356 ABSORBENTS OF THE INTESTINES. 



Absorbent vessels can be proved to proceed from the pelvis 

 of the kidney, and the ureters, by orifices analogous to those 

 above mentioned. 



The Glandule Renales are also supplied with absorbents, 

 which are numerous in proportion to the size of the organs. 

 They commonly join those of the kidney. 



The Absorbents of the Intestines 



Have generally been called Lacteals, from the white color 

 of the chyle which they contain : but there seems no reason for 

 believing that they are different in their structure and nature 

 from the absorbents in other parts of the body. A small num- 

 ber of them appear as if they formed a part of the structure of 

 the intestines, and originated from their external surface, as 

 they do in other parts of the abdomen ; while the principal part 

 of them are appropriated to the absorption of the contents of 

 the cavity of the intestines. 



The first mentioned absorbents run between the muscular 

 and peritoneal coats, and proceed .for some distance length- 

 ways on the intestine, while the others proceed for some dis- 

 tance within the muscular coat, with the arteries ; and, after 

 passing through it, continue between the lamina of the mesen- 

 tery. 



Branches of these different absorbents are frequently united 

 in one trunk, so as to prove that there is no essential difference 

 between them. 



The absorbents which come from the internal surface of the 

 intestines commence in the villi. The manner in which they 

 originate has been the subject of considerable inquiry, as has 

 been stated in the account of the intestines.* 



The lacteals or absorbents of the intestines are very numer- 

 ous. They pass between the lamina of the mesentery to glands 

 which are also seated between those lamina. The number of 

 these glands is very considerable,! and they are various in size 



* See page 41. f They have been estimated between 130 and 150. 



