ABSORPTION, STORAGE, AND ASSIMILATION 175 



place of absorption to the general circulation are as 

 follows : 



1. Route taken by tJie Fat. The fat is conveyed by the 

 lacteals from the villi to the receptacle of the chyle. At 

 this place it mingles with the lymph from the lower parts 

 of the body, and with it 



passes through the tho- 

 racic duct to the left 

 subclavian vein. Here 

 it enters the general 

 circulation. Thus, to 

 reach the general circula- 

 tion, the fat has to pass 

 through the villi, the 

 lacteals, the receptacle 

 of the chyle, and the 

 thoracic duct (Fig. 77). 

 Its passage through these 

 places, like the move- 

 ments in all lymph ves- 

 sels, is slow, and it is 

 only gradually admitted 

 to the blood stream. 



2. Route of All the 

 Nutrients except Fat. 

 Water and salts and the 

 digested proteids and car- 

 bohydrates, in passing into the capillaries, mix there with 

 the blood. But this blood, instead of flowing directly to 

 the heart, is passed through the portal vein to the liver, 

 where it enters a second set of capillaries and is brought 

 very near the liver cells. From the liver it is passed 

 through the hepatic veins into the inferior vena cava, and 



FIG. 77. Diagram of routes 

 food canal to general circulation, 

 text. 



frv>m 

 See 



