3. Thoracic duct
- Is the largest lymphatic trunk which drains
chyle(product of fat digestion) & most lymph of
body.
-Extent- Upper abdomen at lower border of T12
to lower part of neck, crossing post & sup
mediastinum
- 45cms long & 0.5cms wide
- Appears Beaded due to presence of many valves
in its lumen 3
4. 4
Area of drainage
Drains lymph from whole of body except
• Rt side of head & neck
• Rt upper limb
• Rt lung & thoracic wall
• Rt side of heart and rt surface of liver
7. 7
Course:
❖Begins in abdomen at lower border of T12 as a continuation
ofcisterna chyli
❖Enters post mediastinum through aortic opening of
diaphragm(T12)
❖ At T5 shifts to left & runs in superior mediastinum
❖ At C7 (root of neck) arches laterally, then downwards
❖ Ends at angle formed by union of left int jugular
vein & lt subclavian vein, (regurge of blood
prevented by a pair of valves)
14. 14
Tributaries:
➢ Receives lymph from both halves below diaphragm
through Cisternae chyli & Lt half above diaphragm
1. From post IC lymph nodes of lower 6 spaces
2. From upper lumbar nodes(paraaortic LN)
3. From Post Mediastinal lymph nodes & post IC LNs of
upper 6 IC spaces
4. From axilla through Lt Subclavian trunk
5. From nodes in Lt ½ of H & N thru Lt Jugular trunk
6. From Lt half of thorax (Lt lung & Lt side of heart) through
Lt Bronchomediastinal trunk
15. Applied anatomy
➢Obstruction of Thoracic duct – Due to mature
filarial parasites lymph vessels get burst
chylothorax, chyloperitoneum, chyluria.
➢Cervical part of thoracic duct is damaged in
block dissection of neck
➢Thoracic duct is very thin walled and colourless
so more prone for injury during surgery in post
mediastinum. 15
