ABSORPTION. 



151 



The watery fluid which transudes from the vessels, particularly 

 the capillaries, is known as the lymph. It is this fluid which bathes 

 every cell of all the tissues to give them nutriment, while it carries 

 away from these same tissues the products of their activity. 



Lymphatic Vessels. 



In order to nourish the tissues of the body, the plasma of the 

 blood is constantly being osmosed through the capillary walls into 



Longus cclli muscle. 



Thyroid 

 gland. 



Thyro-cervical 

 artery 



Costo-cervical 

 artery. 



Esophagus 



Trachea. 



Axillary lym- 

 phatic trunk. 



Thoracic duct. 



Fig. 42. Topography of the Thoracic Duct (Zuckerkandl.) 

 ( RAYMOND. ) 



spaces between the cells of the tissues. Each cell is thus bathed in 

 a plentiful supply of plasma, from which it absorbs what is needed 

 for its nourishment. This escaped blood-plasma, together with some 

 white cells which have found their way into the spaces, constitute 

 the lymph. To prevent cedema from its accumulation, as well as to 

 have it with its contained impurities reach the blood, from which it 

 may be excreted, Nature makes use of a set of tubes, the lymphatics. 



