THE ABSORBENT SYSTEM 113 



vessels come from stomach, spleen, pancreas, and liver ; the 

 efferent vessels go to the thoracic duct. 



THE LYMPHATICS OF THE THORAX. 



Sternal glands (6 to 10) : along internal mammary artery. 

 The afferent vessels come from front of chest and abdominal 

 walls, diaphragm and under part of mamma ; the efferent 

 vessels join anterior mediastinal glands and thoracic duct. 



Intercostal glands: placed posteriorly on heads of ribs. 

 The afferent vessels come from chest wall ; the efferent open 

 into the thoracic and right lymphatic ducts. 



Anterior mediastinal glands (3 or 4) : between pericardium 

 and sternum. The afferent vessels come from lower sternal 

 glands, upper surface of liver and diaphragm : the efferent 

 vessels pass to thoracic and right lymphatic ducts. 



Superior mediastinal or cardiac glands (8 to 10) : placed in 

 front of the arch of the aorta in the superior mediastinum. 

 The afferent vessels come from the heart, pericardium and 

 thymus gland ; the efferent vessels unite in two or threp 

 trunks which open into the thoracic and right lymphatic 

 ducts. 



Bronchial glands : are placed behind and between the 

 bronchi. The afferent vessels come from the lung ; the 

 efferent vessels join to open into the thoracic and right lym- 

 phatic ducts. 



Posterior mediastinal glands (8 to 12) : lie along descending 

 thoracic aorta. The afferent vessels come from the oesophagus, 

 pericardium, and diaphragm ; the efferent vessels, go to the 

 thoracic duct. 



THE LYMPHATICS OF THE LOWER LIMB. 



The lymphatics of the lower limb are divided into a super- 

 ficial and a deep set. The superficial, except a few which pass 

 to the popliteal glands, go to the superficial inguinal glands. 

 The deep lymphatics enter the deep inguinal glands. 



The popliteal glands (4 or 5) : are placed on the popliteal 

 vessels. The afferent vessels come from the lymphatics of 

 the leg ; the efferent go to the inguinal glands. 



The superficial inguinal glands (8 to 10) : 



Oblique set: lie along Ponpart's ligament. The afferent 

 vessels come from trunk, buttocks, anal canal, perineum, and 

 external genitals, including membranous and spongy urethra 

 in the male and lower third of vagina in female. 



Vertical or femoral set : lie along the internal saphenous 

 vein, and receive the superficial lymphatics of the limb. 

 The efferent vessels of both sets join the deep glands. 



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