228 LYMPHATIC AND 
and from the rectum, take somewhat the 
course of the inferior mesenteric artery and its 
branches; they pass through their appropriate 
glands, and are ultimately received by the 
lumbar glands. 
The vasa efferentia of the lumbar glands 
cannot be said to receive the contents of all the 
vessels and glands hitherto described; they, 
in fact, empty themselves into the principal 
lymphatics by whose union the thoracic duct 
is formed, or into the duct itself soon after its 
formation. The principal lymphatics above 
alluded to may be traced more or less dis- 
tinctly from Poupart’s ligament to the second 
lumbar vertebra, where they usually unite to 
form the thoracic duct, the vessels of opposite 
sides communicating freely with each other. 
Their position and arrangement will be well 
understood by the accompanying wood-cut. 
Fig. 56. 
ere 
Ne 
nny 
er 
In the dissection from which this wood-cut was 
taken, the injection did not pass freely into the 
glands, from which circumstance the vessels are 
more distinctly seen, as it permitted the glands 
which partly concealed them to be removed with- 
out causing extravasation. These vessels, after 
taking somewhat the course of the external, in- 
ternal, and common iliac arteries, may be seen 
to ascend pretty close to the inner edges of the 
LACTEAL SYSTEM. 
muscles, to communicate freely by cross 
ranches, and opposite to about the third 
lumbar vertebra to pass inwards, on the right 
side behind the cava, on the left behind the aorta. 
to unite into one vessel on the body of the = 
cond lumbar vertebra, behind the root of the 
right renal artery, and thus to form the com- 
mencement of the thoracic duct. Inthe su je t 
from which the drawing was taken the branches 
did not unite in the abdominal cavity. Ts 
nearly equal-sized vessels ascended into 
thorax, which, however, soon coalesced. 
union generally takes place opposite the ab 
dilatation malle No. 41, ant eiadl would | 
termed the receptaculum chyli, although th 
lacteals generally enter above this point. 
The lacteals, properly so called, take origi 
from the small intestines. During the proce 
of digestion they contain a white fluid, 
chyle, but at other times their contents are 
colourless like those of the rest of the lympha- 
incipal * 
ening So preeee ee 
into which the vasa efferentia 
glands of these regions empty the 
and the convergence and 
bese: the bodys duct is 
‘ormed on the 
Shewing 
. 
Fig. 56. Shewing the 
. 
of the second lum 
vertebra. ing also in this insta 
owing ae 
: g ; 
double ; Factbes i tact py 4 
a, The body of the second 
vertebra. 
b, The right crus of the diaphrag 
ec, The left crus of the diaphragm. — 
d, The abdominal aorta displaced. — 
e, The diaphragm. 
J, Psoas muscle. 
1, Vasa efferentia of the 
glands. 
2, Their vasa efferentia. 
3, The rincipal branches cia 
with the internal inguinal glands 
4, Those accompanying the extert 
and common iliac glands. 
5, Those accompanying the 
lands. 
6, The convergence of the 
opposite sides, 
10, The trunks from the 1 
* 
7 and 
right sides, which in this instat 
did not unite (as is usually © 
case) to form the thoracic 
but passed separately into t 
vity of the thorax. 
8, Transverse communications - 
tween the vessels of opposite sid 
9, A communication between — 
transverse branches in the 
direction. 
11, The receptaculum chyli, in 
instance remarkably abrupt, ~ 
of a globular form, 
tic system; they are joined by the lymphat 
of the caput coli, the ascending and transver 
colon; they also communicate with the lym: 
phatics of the liver, spleen, pancreas, ane 
stumach. The more modern opinion is, thi 
the lacteals commence from the villi and fre 
the spaces between the villi in the small inte 
tines, not by open mouths, but by a delicate net- 
work of vessels, through the coats of whi 
