LYMPHATICS OF THE TRUNK. 267 



chain of glands at the sides of the aorta. The lymphatic 

 vessels are abundant, and freely communicate with the 

 adjoining glands. The bronchial glands cluster around 

 the bifurcation of the trachea and communicate with the 

 mediastinal. The lymphatics of the heart accompany 

 the blood-vessels. They terminate in a plexus around 

 the aorta, and ultimately enter the thoracic duct. The 

 other glands and lymphatics of the chest are found on the 

 oesophagus, and also following, the blood-vessels. They 

 are such as the intercostals and internal mammary. The 

 right lymphatic duct is a short trunk, about one-tenth of 

 an inch in diameter; it runs for about one and one-half 

 inches, and terminates at the junction of the right sub- 

 clavian and internal jugular veins. It receives the lym- 

 phatics of the right side of the head and neck, right 

 upper extremity, right chest and contents. The thoracic 

 duct is the great lymph-channel of the body. It receives 

 the lymph from all parts of the body except those which 

 communicate with the right lymphatic duct. It is three- 

 sixteenths of an inch in diameter and about twenty 

 inches long, and passes from in front of the second lum- 

 bar vertebra to the left subclavian vein, into which it 

 empties. Its lower end is sacculated, about two inches 

 long, three-eighths of an inch in diameter, and is called 

 the receptaculum chyli. It receives the lumbar lym- 

 phatics and the trunks of the lacteals, which are the 

 lymphatics of the intestines. It passes into the thoracic 

 cavity through the aortic opening, receives the lymphatics 

 of the left side of the chest and contents, runs along the 

 left side of the vertebral column, and empties into the left 

 subclavian vein near its junction with the internal jugular 

 vein. The lymphatics of the small intestine are called 

 the lacteals. After the digestion of food they are filled 

 with chyle, and appear as white streaks running through 



