Cisterna chyli

Lymph: Cisterna chyli
The thoracic and right lymphatic ducts. (Cisterna chyli is the white bulb in the center near the bottom.)
Modes of origin of thoracic duct. a. Thoracic duct. a’. Cisterna chyli. b, c’ Efferent trunks from lateral aortic glands. d. An efferent vessel which pierces the left crus of the diaphragm. e. f. Lateral aortic glands. h. Retroaortic glands. i. Intestinal trunk. j. Descending branch from intercostal lymphatics.
Gray's	subject #176 690
Source	intestinal trunk, lumbar trunks, retroaortic lymph nodes
Drains to	thoracic duct
Dorlands/Elsevier	c_37/12241839

The cisterna chyli (or receptaculum chyli) is a dilated sac at the lower end of the thoracic duct into which the intestinal trunk and two lumbar lymphatic trunks flow.

Flow of lymph

It forms the primary lymph vessel transporting lymph and chyle from the abdomen to the left subclavian vein. It occurs inconsistently and when present is located posterior to the aorta on the anterior aspect of the bodies of the first and second lumbar vertebrae. The cisterna chyli receives fatty chyle from the intestines and thus acts as a conduit for the lipid products of digestion.

Additional images

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  Scheme showing relative positions of primary lymph sacs.

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  Deep lymph nodes and vessels of the thorax and abdomen (diagrammatic).

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  The relations of the viscera and large vessels of the abdomen.

See also

• Lymphatic system

External links

• SUNY Labs 40:14-0100 - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: The Cisterna Chyli"
• Anatomy at MUN thorax/lymph
• Diagram at ccri.edu at ccri.edu

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