ABSORBENTS OF THE PELVIC VISCERA. 495 



whilst others, passing through some scattered lymphatic glands, are guided 

 by the hepatic artery to the right side of the aorta, where they terminate in 

 the thoracic duct. Branches also proceed to the concave border of the 

 stomach, between the folds of the small omentum, to join with the coronary 

 lymphatics of that organ. 



The deep lymphatics of the liver accompany the branches of the portal 

 vein in the substance of the organ, and pass out of the gland by the 

 transverse fissure. After communicating with the superficial lymphatics, 

 and also with those of the stomach, they pass backwards, and join, at the 

 side of the cceliac artery, with one of the large lacteal trunks previously to 

 its termination in the thoracic duct. 



The lymphatics of the kidney likewise consist of a deep and a superficial 

 set. Those placed upon the surface of the organ are comparatively small ; 

 they unite at the hilus of the kidney with other lymphatics from the 

 substance of the gland, and then pass inwards to the lumbar lymphatic 

 glands. The lymphatics of the suprarenal capsules unite with those of the 

 kidney. The lymphatic vessels of the ureter are numerous ; they com- 

 municate with those of the kidney and bladder, and for the most part 

 terminate by union with the former. 



The lymphatics of the bladder, taking rise from the entire surface of that 

 organ, enter the glands placed near the internal iliac artery ; with these 

 are associated the lymphatics of the prostate gland and vesiculae seminales. 



The lymphatics of the uterus, in the unimpregnated state of the organ, 

 are small, but during the period of gestation they are greatly enlarged. 

 Issuing from the entire substance of the uterus, the greater number descend, 

 together with those of the vagina, and pass backwards to enter the glands 

 upon the internal iliac artery ; thus following the course of the principal 

 uterine blood-vessels. Others, proceeding from the upper end of the uterus, 

 run outwards in the folds of peritoneum which constitute the broad liga- 

 ments, and join the lymphatics derived from the ovaries and Fallopian 

 tubes. The conjoined vessels then ascend with the ovarian arteries, near 

 the origin of which they terminate in the lymphatic vessels and glands 

 placed on the aorta and vena cava. 



The lymphatics of the testicle commence in the substance of the gland, 

 and upon the surface of the tunica vaginalis. Collected into several large 

 trunks, they ascend with the other constituents of the spermatic cord, pass 

 through the inguinal canal, and accompany the spermatic vessels in the 

 abdomen to enter some of the lumbar lymphatic glands. 



LYMPHATICS OF THE THORAX. 



The lymphatic glands of the thorax. Along the course of the internal 

 mammary blood-vessels there are placed six or seven small glands, through 

 which pass the lymphatics situated behind the sternum ; they may be named 

 the anterior mediastinal glands. Between the intercostal muscles and in 

 the line of the heads of the ribs on the side of the spine is a set of glands, 

 named intercostal, which receive the lymphatics from the thoracic parietes 

 and the pleura ; their efferent ducts communicate freely with each other 

 and open into the thoracic duct. Three or four cardiac lymphatic glands 

 lie behind the aortic arch, and one before it : and another cluster, varying 

 from fifteen to twenty in number, is found along the oesophagus, con- 

 stituting the cesophageal glands. The bronchial glands, ten or twelve in 

 number, are of much larger size than those just mentioned. The largest of 



