THE AFFLUENTS OF THE THORACIC DUCT. 729 



the middle of the fissure, asceud, five or six in number, towards the origin of 

 the artery in forming- a sinuous mass, the divisions of which, anastomosing with 

 those of the stomach and hver, open, on the one hand, with the latter in the 

 anterior trunk of the intestinal lymphatics, and, on the other, into a magnificent 

 plexus communicating directly with the thoracic duct. 



'• Finally, the lymphatics of the liver form a very close network on the 

 surface, and another in the interior of the gland. They collect towards the 

 posterior fissure, and first dip into a primary and very small glandular group, 

 then into a second group of voluminous round glands, which are concealed 

 between the trunk of the vena porttv and the pancreas. They open in common 

 with the vessels of the stomach and spleen " (Colin). 



Glands and Lymphatic Vessels of the Organs contained in the 



Thoracic Cavity. 



We find annexed to these organs three groups of lymphatic glands : 1. A 

 series of small granular masses in the posterior mediastinum, on the course of 

 the oesophagus. 2. The bronchial glr/nds, situated in the angle of bifurcation 

 of the trachea, around the origin of the bronchi, which they follow for a short 

 distance into the pulmonary tissue. 3. Two long strings of lobules extended 

 on the sides of the inferior face of the trachea, from the base of the heart to 

 near the first rib. 



The first group receives the posterior lymphatics of the oesophagus, the 

 second those of the lung, and the third those of the pericardium, heart, and a 

 portion of the trachea and oesophagus. Their efferents, uniting into some large 

 trunks, enter the thoracic duct at different distances. 



Glands and Lymphatic Vessels of the Thoracic Walls. 



These glands form three series : 1. A double chain of small rounded glands, 

 situated on each side of the dorsal column, above the intercostal spaces, and 

 beneath the costal pleura. 2. A frequently voluminous mass, lodged at the 

 base of the xiphoid cartilage, behind the heart, and in front of the inferior 

 part of the diaphragm. 3. Some rudimentary glands lying beside the internal 

 thoracic vessels. 



The lymphatics of the diaphragm, after receiving those from the convex 

 face of the liver, pass to the glands placed at the base of that muscle, whence 

 they escape in the form of several vessels that accompany the internal thoracic 

 vessels, and open into the anterior extremity of the thoracic duct or the great 

 lymphatic vein, the majority of them through the medium of the ]irepectoral 

 glands. These vessels receive, on their course, those which are brought from 

 the inferior part of the intercostal spaces into the supra-sternal glands. 



The other lymphatic vessels of the thoracic wall ascend between the two 

 muscles which close these spaces, and go to the subdorsal glands, which after- 

 wards eject them, near the origin of the thoracic duct, in the form of one or 

 two long vessels proceeding in a retrograde manner on each side of the dorsal 

 vertebrae. 



Lymphatic Vessels of the Head, Neck, and Anterior Limb. 



These vessels are all directed towards the entrance to the chest, and are 

 gathered into a group of glands, called the prepectoral, which, with regard to 



