270 ABSORBENT SYSTEM. 



senteric artery, receive all the vessels continued from the mesen- 

 teric glands, as well as those coming from the mesentery and in- 

 testines. 



The mesenteric absorbents, extremely numerous, are sustained 

 between the layers of the mesentery, where they form a vascular 

 network : many of them issue from the exhalent surface of the 

 mesentery and intestinal tube ; others take their rise from the 

 interior of the intestine, from which they imbibe chyle. All these 

 vessels converge towards the lymphatic reservoir, clinging in their 

 passage around the mesenteric veins ; some, however, taking a 

 solitary course at a greater or less distance from any bloodvessel : 

 having arrived at the root of the mesentery, they pass through 

 one or two, sometimes three, of the mesenteric glands, and after- 

 wards join the principal lumbar lymphatics. The absorbents of 

 the ccecum and ccscum caput coli run to the glands set at inter- 

 vals along the intestinal tube, whence they proceed to the recep- 

 taculum chyli. 



5. Lymphatics of the Liver, Stomach, Spleen, and Omentum. 



The hepatic trunk comprises the lymphatics issuing from the 

 liver, stomach, spleen, and omentum : the branch of the recepta- 

 culum chyli not uncommonly consists of two divisions, and re- 

 ceives, in addition to the above-mentioned vessels, many ramifi- 

 cations from the crura of the diaphragm. 



The lymphatics of the liver, extremely numerous, are distin- 

 guishable into a superficial and a deep-seated set. The first arise 

 more particularly from the exhalent surface of the organ, creep 

 along upon its peritoneal capsule, and there form a plexus of close 

 and intricate network. Those from the anterior surface make 

 one or two large branches which perforate the diaphragm, enter 

 the thoracic cavity, unite with the lymphatics from the chordi- 

 form tendon, and proceed to the fore part of the thoracic duct ; 

 whilst those of the posterior surface enter the glands placed around 

 the great fissure, where they unite with the deep-seated set. 



The deep-seated hepatic spring from the parenchyma of the 

 gland, cling around the divisions of the hepatic artery and he- 

 patic veins, issue from the interior of the viscus by the great 

 fissure, run to the glands there, and afterwards proceed along 

 with the superficial to the main hepatic trunk. 



The lymphatics of the stomach, of which the superficial come 

 from the external surface, the deep-seated from its cavity, follow 

 the veins, and are distinguishable into a superior and an inferior 

 set. The former take the direction of the lesser curvature, per- 

 forate the glands thereabouts, and go to join the absorbents of 



