What is thoracic duct?

What is thoracic duct?

The thoracic duct is the main lymphatic vessel for the return of chyle/lymph to the systemic venous system. It drains lymph from both lower limbs, abdomen (except the convex area of the liver), left hemithorax, left upper limb and left face and neck.

What is the thoracic duct made up of?

The thoracic duct is formed from the abdominal confluence of the left and right lumbar lymph trunks, as well as the left and right intestinal lymph trunks between T12 and L2. If the confluence of lymph trunks is saccular, it is referred to as cisterna chyli.

What is a thoracic duct in anatomy?

The thoracic duct is the larger of the two and responsible for lymph drainage from the entire body except for the right sides of the head and neck, the right side of the thorax, and the right upper extremity which are primarily drained by the right lymphatic duct.[1][2]

What happens when thoracic duct is blocked?

Obstruction of the thoracic duct(s) causes chronic upper extremity lymphedema. Lymphatics have bicuspid valves like the venous system. Metaplastic fibrosis resulting from obstruction of lymph drainage in the upper extremities impedes vertebral venous plexus / Batson’s plexus circulation.

Where is thoracic duct located?

The thoracic duct usually starts from the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebrae (T12) and extends to the root of the neck. It drains into the systemic (blood) circulation at the junction of the left subclavian and internal jugular veins, at the commencement of the brachiocephalic vein.

Where does thoracic duct begin?

The thoracic duct drains the lower extremities, pelvis, abdomen, left side of the thorax, left upper extremity, and left side of the head and neck. It originates at the cisterna chyli (when present) and terminates at the junction of the left subclavian and left internal jugular veins.

Where does the thoracic duct begin?

cisterna chyli
The thoracic duct drains the lower extremities, pelvis, abdomen, left side of the thorax, left upper extremity, and left side of the head and neck. It originates at the cisterna chyli (when present) and terminates at the junction of the left subclavian and left internal jugular veins.

What are the 2 main lymphatic ducts?

There are two lymph ducts in the body: the right lymph duct and the thoracic duct. There are four pairs of lymph trunks: jugular lymph trunks, subclavian lymph trunks, bronchomediastinal lymph trunks, and lumbar lymph trunks.

What is lymphatic duct?

Medical Definition of lymphatic duct : any of the lymphatic vessels that are part of the system collecting lymph from the lymphatic capillaries and draining it into the subclavian veins by way of the right lymphatic duct and the thoracic duct. — called also lymph duct.

What causes blockage in thoracic duct?

Thoracic Duct Obstruction The duct can be directly injured via trauma or surgery, or blocked by tumors (see causes below). When the thoracic duct is blocked (such as by a tumor), it usually leads to secondary rupture of lymphatic ducts leading to the blockage.

What disease affects the lymphatic system?

Lymphoma. Cancer that starts in the lymphatic system is known as lymphoma. It is the most serious lymphatic disease. Hodgkin lymphoma affects a specific type of white blood cell known as Reed-Sternberg cells.

What is the difference between the right lymphatic duct and the thoracic duct?

The right lymphatic duct drains lymph from the right upper limb, right side of thorax and right halves of head and neck. The thoracic duct drains lymph into the circulatory system at the left brachiocephalic vein between the left subclavian and left internal jugular veins.

The thoracic duct originates in the abdomen from the confluence of the right and left lumbar trunks and the intestinal trunk, forming a significant pathway upward called the cisterna chyli .

What does the thoracic duct empty into?

The thoracic duct empties into the venous system, specifically at the point where the left internal jugular vein and the left subclavian meet.

What is the enlarged portion of the thoracic duct?

cistern. cisterna cerebellomedulla´ris poste´rior the enlarged subarachnoid space between the undersurface of the cerebellum and the posterior surface of the medulla oblongata ; called also cisterna magna. cisterna chy´li the dilated portion of the thoracic duct at its origin in the lumbar region; called also receptaculum chyli.

What is ligation of the thoracic duct?

Thoracic duct ligation is a surgical procedure used to treat chylothorax in dogs. During normal digestion, fat molecules from food pass through small lymph vessels known as lacteals before being transported into the cisterna chyli , the largest lymph vessel in the abdomen.