10 



ZOOLOGY. 



follows another route, and penetrates another system of vessels, 

 lt\ which it reaches the veins, but in an indirect way. These 

 vessels, called indifferently lacteals,* or chyliferous vessels, 

 ton n a portion of the absorbent or lymphatic system of 

 vessels. (See 34.) They originate in the villosities of the 

 mucous membrane of the small intestine, and unite into 

 branches or single vessels, which are placed between the two 

 folds of the mesentery. In their course towards the thoracic 

 duct, these lacteals pass through the ganglions called mesen- 

 teric (Fig. 26). Again assuming the form of single vessels 

 on emerging from these ganglions, they proceed to the thoracic 

 duct, in which they terminate. By means of this duct, the 

 chyle thus formed is conveyed into the left subclavian vein 

 (Fig. 2). 



Aorta. Thoracic Canal. Lymphatic Ganglions. 



(Radicles of the 

 ^ < chyliferous 



C vessels. 

 Intestine. 



Lymphatic Vessels. Mesentery. 



Fig. 26. Chyliferout Veueli. 



76. When an animal has been kept without food for 

 some time, these vessels are nearly empty ; but when diges- 



* From the milk-like appearance of the chyle which they contain. 



