258 



610, The Cisterna 



s. Receptaculum chyli. 



After a dried specimen. 

 Natural size. 



611. ricxiform 

 Arrangement of a 

 Tli oracic Duct, After 



specimen of Teichmann. 



Lymphatics. 



The thoracic duct, Ductus 

 thoracicus, is the principal trunk of the 

 lymphatic system. It commences at the 

 anterior surface of the II. or III. lumbar 

 vertebra to the right and behind the 

 aorta, by three roots, Radices ductus 

 tlioracici, the right and left of which 

 are called Truncl lymphatici lumbales, 

 while the middle is called the Truncus 

 lymphaticus intestinalis. The former 

 commence from the lumbar plexuses, 

 which collect the lymphatics of the 

 pelvis and lower extremities; the latter 

 forms the union of the lacteals of the 

 alimentary canal. The place of union 

 of these three roots is called Cisterna 

 s. licceptaculum cliyli. 



The thoracic duct ascends into 

 the thorax with the aorta, and there 

 lies between the aorta and V. azycjos. 

 Opposite the fourth dorsal vertebra it pas- 

 ses to the left and behind the oesophagus, 

 and at the level of the seventh cervical 

 vertebra it turns outwards, at the same 

 time arching downwards and forwards, 

 to terminate at the angle of junction 

 of the left common jugular and left 

 subclavian veins. It receives the lym- 

 phatics from the left and lower part 

 of the right half of the thorax, also 

 those from the, left side of the head 

 and neck and the left upper extremity, 

 by means of the Truncus jugularis sinister 

 and Truncus suLdarius sinister. The 

 lymphatics of the upper part of the 

 right half of the thorax, as well as 

 those from the right side of the head and 

 neck and the right upper extremity, form 

 the r i g h t 1 y m p h a t i c or thoracic 

 d u c t, Ductus tltoracicus dexter, which 

 opens into the right V. mnominata. 



