Chyle cistern

Lymph: Cisterna chyli; Cysterna Chyli
Gray's subject #176 690
Source
 intestinal trunk, lumbar trunks, retroaortic lymph nodes
Drains to
 thoracic duct
Dorlands/Elsevier Cisterna chyli

The cisterna chyli (or cysterna chyli, and etymologically more correct, receptaculum chyli) is a dilated sac at the lower end of the thoracic duct into which lymph from the intestinal trunk and two lumbar lymphatic trunks flow. It receives fatty chyle from the intestines and thus acts as a conduit for the lipid products of digestion. It is the most common drainage trunk of most of the body's lymphatics. The cisterna chyli is located posterior to the abdominal aorta on the anterior aspect of the bodies of the first and second lumbar vertebrae. There it forms the beginning of the primary lymph vessel, the thoracic duct, which transports lymph and chyle from the abdomen via the aortic opening to the junction of left subclavian vein and internal jugular veins.

Additional images

  • Scheme showing relative positions of primary lymph sacs.

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

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

  • DH lymphatic system.jpg

    Lymphatic system

  • Cisterna chyli (arrow), adjacent to the azygous vein (curved arrow). Normally not visible on CT; this is a 83 male who had a CT for follow-up of gastrointestinal stromal tumour.

See also

References

External links

  • 40:14-0100 - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: The Cisterna Chyli"
  • thorax/lymph
  • Diagram at ccri.edu at ccri.edu
Abdomen
Parietal/
Lumbar trunk
Other
Pelvic

M: LMO

anat (h, u, t, a, l)/phys/devp

Lymphatic system - Lymphatic trunks and ducts (TA A12.4.01, GA 8.690)
Path details
Other concepts

M: LMO

anat (h, u, t, a, l)/phys/devp

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