224 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 



with the right internal jugular. Through this channel lymph 

 alone joins the venous blood on its way to the heart. 



Note. The cavities of serous membranes, as peritoneum, 

 pleura, pericardium and others, belong to the system of lymph- 

 spaces, but of a special kind. They are surrounded by capillaries 

 which communicate with them by tiny openings in the membrane, 

 called stomata. 



Like the venous blood current, lymph flows toward the heart. 

 After the lymph vessels are formed and receive their contents 

 from the tissues, they take a fairly independent course. The 

 larger glands are found in the neighborhood of veins as a general 

 rule but not in the same sheath; knowing the situation of the 

 glands and bearing in mind that the actual lymph stream flows 

 from the tissues toward the heart, their course is easily traced and 

 is of interest and importance as a swollen lymph node gives a clue 

 to the possible location of the cause. 



SITUATION OF THE PRINCIPAL GROUPS OF NODES 

 OR GLANDS 



BELOW THE DIAPHRAGM 



Lower extremity. Popliteal, in the popliteal space, inguinal 

 (important) at the oval fossa and along the inguinal ligament 

 (Fig. 152). 



Pelvis: External and internal iliac, with the external and 

 internal iliac vessels. 



Abdomen: Mesenteric, between the layers of the mesentery 

 (about 150); lumbar, in front of the aorta and vena cava. These 

 are numerous. 



ABOVE THE DIAPHRAGM 



Upper extremity. Epitrochlear, above the internal epicondyle; 

 axillary, under the axillary walls, and clavicular, along the sub- 

 clavian vessels (Fig. 150). 



The axillary glands are superficial, under the borders of the muscle 

 boundaries; and deep around the axillary vessels. These are very important. 



Head: Occipital, below the occiput; auricular, behind the ear; 

 parotid, upon the parotid gland; submaxillary , under the angle of 

 the jaw (Fig. 150). 



