LYMPHATICS OF THE LUNGS 



729 



afferents from the liver and none from the diaphragm, but the rest receive 

 vessels from the ventral surface of the diaphragm and the efferents of all pass to 

 the lower set of anterior mediastinal nodes. 



The middle group consists of from three to six nodes, which lie, on the left side, 

 near the point where the phrenic nerve enters the diaphragm; on the right side, 

 near the vena cava. 



The dorsal group of four or five nodes is placed between the pillars of the 

 diaphragm. The vessels from the lateral and dorsal groups pass to the posterior 

 mediastinal nodes, and also to the upper coeliac nodes, which likewise receive the 

 drainage from the dorsal part of the abdominal surface of the diaphragm. 



Fig. 573. — The Lymphatics of the (Esophagus. (After Sakata.) 



\ . Inferior deep cervicl nodes 



g. ^ ^5— Deep cervical node 



"Recurrent nerve 



'Bronchial nodes 



Node at cardiac orifice 

 of stomach 



To the visceral group of thoracic lymphatics belong the vessels of the thymus, 

 the lungs, the heart, and the oesophagus. 



The lymphatics of the thymus drain, according to Severeanu, into three sets 

 of glands, an anterior, a ventral and a dorsal group. The anterior set, one gland 

 on each side, lies lateral to the cephalic end of the thymus, and drains into the 

 jugular or subclavian trunk. The ventral set includes 4-6 of the anterior medi- 

 astinal lymph-glands. The dorsal set, 2 on each side, is made up of anterior 

 mediastinal glands lying between the thymus and the pericardium. 



The lymphatics of the lungs are arranged in two sets. A deep set takes its 

 origin in plexuses which surround the terminal bronchi and follows the course of 

 the bronchi, the pulmonary arterj^, and the pulmonary vein to the pulmonary 

 nodes at the hilus, whence the stream passes to the main bronchial nodes (fig. 569), 

 especially to those situated in the angle formed by the bifurcation of the trachea, 



