196 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE ABSORBENT SYSTEM 



COMPREHENDS 1st, the vessels which convey the lymph and chyle 

 into the veins, and 2dly, the enlargements which occur in their 

 course, called glands or ganglia. 



The Lacteal or Chyliferous vessels commence on the mucous 

 surface of the intestines, pass through the mesenteric glands back- 

 wards towards the spine, where they terminate in the thoracic 

 duct. 



The lymphatic vessels are found in most situations of the body, 

 and generally observe a deep and superficial arrangement. 



Lymphatics of the lower extremities. The superficial set accom- 

 pany the external and internal saphena veins : they communicate 

 freely in their course with the deep lymphatic trunks which accom- 

 pany the deep vessels. Those which accompany the external 

 saphena vein enter the glands in the popliteal space, whilst those 

 accompanying the internal saphena vein ascend to the groin, and 

 pass through the inguinal glands, having formed numerous con- 

 nexions with the superficial lymphatics of the abdomen, the peri- 

 neam, and the genitals. The deep lymphatics of the hip and 

 perineum are conducted by the branches of the internal iliac 

 vessels into the pelvis, and pass through the pelvic glands. 

 From the inguinal and pelvic glands the lymphatics pass along the 

 primitive iliac vessels to the receptabulum chyli. 



The Thoracic Duct. This canal commences by a dilatation called 

 receptaculum chyli, placed on the body of the 2d or 3d dorsal ver- 

 tebra : passing between the crura of the diaphragm it gains the 

 posterior mediastinum, where it lies between the aorta and the vena 

 azygos ; at the 5th dorsal vertebra it crosses the spine obliquely to 

 the left side, passing behind the oesophagus and arch of the aorta, 

 and placed behind the left pleura, and between the left carotid and 

 left subclavian arteries, it is then conducted by the oesophagus to 

 the left side of the neck as high as the 6th cervical vertebra, where, 

 making a slight curve downwards and outwards, it opens close to 

 the external angle formed by the left subclavian and jugular veins. 



