196 



MANUAL OF PHYSIOLOGY. 



lymphatic capillaries, from which spring the tributaries of the 

 lymph vessels. (Figs. 82 and 83.) 



The lymphatic vessels are throughout slender, thin-walled 

 channels with close-set valves, usually in pairs, and with frequent 

 anastomoses. They lie imbedded in the connective tissue, and 

 when empty are difficult to see, owing to their extreme delicacy. 

 They converge toward a central vessel called the thoracic duct, 



FIG. 82. 



Lymph Channels from the thoracic side of the central tendon of the diaphragm of the 

 rabbit, treated with silver nitrate. The fine lines indicate the boundaries of the endo- 

 thelium cells lining the lymph channels. The dark part shows the islets between the 

 lymphatic network. (Klein.) 



which, passing from the abdominal cavity, through the thorax, 

 reaches the left side of the neck, and opens into the angle of 

 junction of the two great veins from the head and upper ex- 

 tremity. (Fig. 80.) On the right side, a smaller trunk, convey- 

 ing the lymph from the right arm and that side of the head, 

 chest, and neck, opens into the corresponding venous trunks. 



