THE ABDOMEN, INTERIOR. 527 



front of the vertebrae, the right behind the vena cava, the 

 left behind the outer border of the aorta, both close to the 

 anterior border of the psoas muscle. The cord passing to 

 the sacral ganglia goes behind the iliac vessels, internal to 

 the psoas muscle. 



The Receptaculum Chyli. 



This is the dilated pouch from which the thoracic duct 

 arises. It receives the lymph and chyle from the abdomi- 

 nal walls and organs. See page 344. 



It lies to the right and behind the abdominal aorta, be- 

 tween it and the right crus of the diaphragm, and upon the 

 body of the second lumbar vertebrae. It is one and one- 

 half inches long and one-quarter of an inch in diameter. 



Psoas Magnus. Figs. 103, 107. 



Origin. By five muscular slips from the anterior surfaces 

 and lower borders of the transverse processes of the lumbar 

 vertebrae, from the sides and intervertebral discs of the last 

 dorsal and lumbar vertebrae. Over the centre of the bodies 

 of the vertebrae small gaps are left in the muscular attach- 

 ment for the passage of the lumbar vessels and lumbar 

 branches of the sympathetic nerves. 



Insertion. By a strong tendon into the lesser trochanter 

 of the femur. 



Nerve Supply. Muscular branches from the anterior 

 division of the second and third lumbar nerves. 



Action. For action on femur see under Iliacus. On the 

 spine it flexes the last dorsal and lumbar vertebrae upon 

 the pelvis. 



Iliacus. Figs. 103, 107. 



Origin. From the base of the sacrum, the sacro-iliac 

 and iliolumbar ligaments, the iliac fossa, the iliac crest, 



