Cisterna chyli

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Lymph: Cisterna chyli; Cysterna Chyli


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	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.

[edit] Flow of lymph

It forms the primary lymph vessel transporting lymph and chyle from the abdomen via the aortic opening to the junction of left subclavian vein and internal jugular veins. It occurs inconsistently and when present is located posterior to the abdominal 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. It is the most common drainage trunk of most of the body's lymphatics.

[edit] 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.
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.