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TEXT-BOOK OF PHYSIOLOGY 



tissue spaces as intercellular lymph, and that found in the lymph-vessels as 

 intravascular lymph. 



The Physical Properties of Lymph. Whether obtained from tissue 

 spaces or from lymph-vessels, the lymph presents practically the same physical 

 properties. The lymph obtained from the thoracic duct during the intervals 

 of digestion or from one of the large trunks of the leg is a clear, colorless or 

 slightly opalescent fluid having an alkaline reaction and a specific gravity 

 of i. 020 to 1.040. Examined microscopically it is seen to hold in suspen- 



FIG. 87. DIAGRAM SHOWING THE COURSE or THE MAIN TRUNKS OF THE ABSORBENT SYSTEM. 

 The lymph-vessel of lower extremities (D) meet the lacteals of intestines (LAC) at the recep- 

 taculum chyli (RC), where the thoracic duct begins. The superficial vessels are shown in the 

 diagram on the right arm and leg (S), and the deeper ones on the arm to the left (D). The 

 glands are here and there shown in groups. The small right duct opens into the veins on the 

 right side. The thoracic duct opens into the union of the great veins of the left side of the neck 

 (T). (Yeo's "Text-book of Physiology.") 



sion a large number of corpuscles similar to those seen in the lymph-glands 

 and to the white corpuscles of the blood. Their number has been estimated 

 at about 8000 per cubic millimeter, though this count will vary within wide 

 limits according as the lymph examined has passed through a larger or 

 smaller number of glands. The lymph-corpuscle consists of a small quan- 

 tity of protoplasm in which is embedded a distinct nucleus. Some of 

 these lymphocytes contain distinct granules, more or less refractive, which 

 impart to the corpuscle a granular appearance. When withdrawn 



