ABSORPTION. 39 



COMPOSITION OF LYMPH. 



DR. OWEN REES. 



Water 9 6 -53 6 



Proteids (serum- albumen, fibrin, globulin) 1.320 



Extractives (urea, sugar, cholesterine) r -559 



Fatty matter a trace 



Salts 0.585 



IOO.OOO 



Origin of Lymph. Lymph is undoubtedly a transudation from the 



?\ capillary blood vessels, occurring during the process of nutrition, and is 



\ identical, for the most part, with the liquor sanguinis, or plasma. As new 



material is constantly exuded, the old is absorbed by the lymphatics, and 



returned again to the circulation. 



Excrementitious matters, as urea, cholesterine, etc., are also taken up 

 from the tissues by the lymphatics and emptied into the blood. 



The total quantity of lymph poured into the thoracic duct in 24 hours 

 has been estimated at 3^ Ibs. 



, Chyle. As a result of the process of digestion, the oleaginous matters 



j which have been acted upon by the pancreatic juice and bile are trans- 



l formed into a condition of emulsion, forming an opaque, milky fluid, 



termed chyle, which adheres to the folds of the mucous membrane and villi. 



The Molecules of the fat are first absorbed by the epithelial cells, upon 



the surface of the villi, through which they pass and enter the lymphatics. 



Absorption by the Lacteals. The lacteals, or lymphatics of the small 



intestine, have their origin in the interior of the villi, from which they 



emerge and form a lymphatic plexus ; the larger branches of which pass 



through the layers of the mesentery, and finally terminate in the thoracic 



duct (Fig. 6). 



* In the intervals of digestion the lacteals contain clear, transparent lymph, 

 and are invisible on account of their small size and delicacy. But during 

 digestion these vessels become filled, from absorption of the chyle, and 

 form a visible network of white vessels ramifying through the mesentery, 

 and converging toward the receptaculum chyli. 



The lacteal vessels also absorb a small quantity of water, albuminose, 

 ghicose and salts. 



COMPOSITION OF CHYLE. 



Water 902.37 



Albumen 35. 1 6 



Fibrin 3.70 



Extractives J 5-65 



Fatty m atters 36.01 



Salts 7.11 



1000.00 



