256 ANATOMY or THE DOMESTIC FOWL 



internal branches accompany and form a network around the 

 blood-vessels. The posterior and external branches receive the 

 lymphatic vessels from the sole of the foot. They then ascend 

 along the metatarsus and form, at its proximal articulation, a close 

 network from which vessels pass along the tibial region, forming a 

 plexus around it as far as the middle of the leg. From this there 

 arises two branches. The smaller passes along the anterior part of 

 the depression between the tibia and the fibula, as far as the knee- 

 joint, where it joins the other branch, which accompanies the blood- 

 vessel. The trimk formed by the union of these two vessels ac- 

 companies the femoral vessels. Forming plexuses in its course, it 

 receives tributary vessels from the adjacent muscles. The iliac 

 trunk accompanies the femoral vein into the abdominal cavity, 

 entering just in front of the anterior end of the pubis. At this point 

 it receives branches from the lateral parts of the pelvis and then 

 separates into two branches. The posterior vessel receives some 

 lymph from the anterior lobes of the kidney, and from the ovary, or 

 testis, and communicates anteriorly with a branch formed by the 

 lymph vessels adjacent to the anterior mesenteric artery, and 

 posteriorly with a large vesicular plexus surrounding the aorta and 

 its branches. This plexus receives the lymph from the renal plexus 

 and from those accompanying the arteria media. 



There are two sacral or pelvic vesicles which are situated at the 

 angle between the tail and the thigh in the posterior part of the 

 abdominal cavity. Each vesicle is a trifle more than a half inch 

 long and a quarter inch wide, and is shaped somewhat Uke a kidney 

 bean. They have muscular coats with striated fibers. These sacs 

 are called "lymph hearts." 



The anterior division of the femoral lymphatic trunk accompanies 

 the aorta, on which it forms a plexus with the branches of the 

 opposite side, and with the intestinal lymph vessels. These vessels 

 commence from a continuous plexiform network located between 

 the mucous and the muscular coat of the intestine. They are larger 

 at this point than where they leave the intestine to pass through the 

 mesentery. They accompany the trimk of the anterior mesenteric 

 artery and form a plexus around it. 



Before reaching the region of the aorta, the intestinal lympha- 

 tic vessels communicate with the posterior division of the femoral 

 trunk and with the lymph vessels of the ovary or of the testis. 

 After passing to the region of the aorta they receive vessels from 



