616 ANGIOLOGY 



of the lymph passes through at least one group of lymph glands before entering the 

 blood-vascular system.. 



The Ijmiph glands or nodes (Lymphoglandulae) are intercalated in the course 

 of the lymph vessels. They vary widely in size, some being microscopic, others 

 several inches in length. In form they may be globular, ovoid and flattened, 

 elongated, or irregular. In certain situations they are aggregated into groups, 

 and a knowledge of the position of these and the territory drained into them is im- 

 portant. It is convenient, when possible, to indicate their position with regard to 

 arteries on the course of which they are placed. In color they are usually gray or 

 yellowish-brown in the dead subject, pink or reddish-brown during life, but this 

 varies according to their position and functional state. The bronchial glands 

 are often blackened by infiltration with carbon. The mesenteric glands are creamy 

 or white while the chyle is passing through, but pink at other times. Vessels 

 which carry lymph to a gland are called afferent; the efferent vessels which convey 

 it away are larger and fewer. Each gland has a depression, the hilus, at which the 

 blood-vessels enter and the efferent lymph vessels emerge. 



Lymph nodules or follicles (Noduli lymphatici) are minute masses of lymphoid 

 tissue which occur in certain mucous membranes. They may be solitary, as in the 

 solitary nodules or glands of the intestine, or aggregated into masses or patches, as 

 in the tonsils and the aggregate glands or so-called Peyer's patches. 



The lymph nodule or folUcle is the unit of structure of the Ijrmph gland. It consists 

 essentially of an artery surrounded by a retictilum of connective tissue, the meshes of which 

 contain numerous lymphocytes. Surrounding this is a rich plexus of lymph vessels, forming the 

 so-called sinus, enclosed in some cases by a fibrous capsule. The gland consists of a mass of 

 follicles, enclosed in a fibrous capsule, from which trabeculse pass in and unite the follicles. Be- 

 neath the capsule is the peripheral sinus, which consists of a very rich plexus of lymph vessels; 

 to this the afferent vessels pass at various points of the surface. In the cortical substance the 

 cells are in rounded masses, the cortical nodules, while in the medullary substance they lie 

 around the arteries, forming the so-called medullary cords. The medulla is redder than the cor- 

 tex, since it; is more vascular; it contains the central lymph sinuses, which have a similar struc- 

 ture to the peripheral sinus. 



The haemolymph glands differ from the lymph glands in color and structure. 

 They are of a deep red color or even black, which is due to the high vascularity of 

 the cortical substance. The peripheral sinuses especially are greatly developed 

 and contain numerous red blood-cells. There is no clear division into cortical and 

 medullary substance, and the trabeculse contain smooth muscle-cells. Some have 

 afferent and efferent lymph vessels and others do not. They resemble the spleen in 

 some respects, but their significance is not yet clear. They are numerous in the ox 

 and sheep, much fewer in the dog, and apparently are absent in the horse. They 

 occur along the course of the aorta, in the perineal fat, at the portal fissure, and with 

 the gastric and mesenteric lymph glands. In the ox they are also found nnder the 

 trapezius muscle, under the skin of the upper part of the flank, and in other places 

 less constantly. 



The tissue or lymph spaces are interstices of varying size between cells or in 

 the meshes of connective tissue. They contain a fluid derived from the blood- 

 plasma, which is usually called lymph. They are drained by the veins and lymph 

 vessels. The lafge serous sacs are often included in this category. 



The exact relationship between the lymphatic capillaries and the tissue spaces is still a matter 

 of controversy. It is held by some that the lymph vessels are in direct communication with the 

 tissue spaces, while others maintain that the lymphatics are complete closed tubes. Communi- 

 cation between the spaces and vessels is in general very free. Mall has shown that granules in- 

 jected into the hepatic artery are returned by the lymphatics as well as by the veins, and intra- 

 muscular injections will enter the lymph vessels of the tendon in spite of the absence of lymphatics 

 in muscle. 



