n8 



OUR BODIES AND HOW WE LIVE 



In each one of these villi is a network of the finest blood 

 vessels, and a tube, or canal, called a lacteal, so called from 

 a Latin word meaning milky, because it carries a white, 

 milky fluid. Millions of these lacteals dip down into the 

 small intestine, like little root fibers, and suck up the drop- 

 lets of fat or the glycerin and soaps made from them. 



The lacteals, after passing through a number of glands 

 like way stations on a railroad in the abdomen, unite 



FIG. 77. BLACKBOARD SKETCH. 

 Diagram of Intestinal Absorption. 



A, a fold of peritoneum ; B, lacteals and lymphatic glands ; C<, veins of 

 intestines; R.C., receptacle of the chyle (receptaculum chyli) ; P.V., 

 portal vein; H.V., hepatic veins; S.V.C., superior vena cava; R.A., 

 right auricle of the heart ; 7.F.C., inferior vena cava. 



into larger tubes, and finally open into the saclike expan- 

 sion of the lower end of the thoracic duct, known as the 

 receptaculum chyli. Into this are poured not only the con- 

 tents of the lacteals but also of the lymphatic vessels of 

 the lower limbs (Fig. 128). 



167. The Thoracic Duct. Sooner or later most of the 

 small lymphatics pour their contents into the thoracic duct. 

 This is a tube about as large as a goose quill, which lies in 

 front of the backbone. It serves to carry the nutritive 



