Anatomy
Also known as Cisterna Chyli, a sac (constituting the start of the Thoracic Duct) receiving lymph from both Lumbar Trunks and the Intestinal Trunk.
Physiology
The lymphatic ducts of the small intestine begin in the villi as specialised capillaries called Lacteals. Lacteals take up lymph and also absorbed fats, the milky combination then called Chyle, moving this on into larger ducts and thence the Cysterna Chyli. The fats thereby transported, arrive at and are taken up by the liver, via the systemic (rather than the portal) circulation.
Clinical
Lymph is recycled Blood Plasma. Blood Plasma is intravascular extracellular fluid. The fluid compartments and movement;
Tissue Cells ECF (TCF IF Plasma) Blood Cells.
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