The right lymphatic duct is an important lymphatic vessel that drains the right upper quadrant of the

body Body may refer to: In science * Physical body, an object in physics that represents a large amount, has mass or takes up space * Body (biology), the physical material of an organism * Body plan, the physical features shared by a group of anima ...

. It forms various combinations with the right

subclavian vein The subclavian vein is a paired large vein, one on either side of the body, that is responsible for draining blood from the upper extremities, allowing this blood to return to the heart. The left subclavian vein plays a key role in the absorption ...

and right internal jugular vein.

Structure

The right lymphatic duct courses along the medial border of the

anterior scalene The scalene muscles are a group of three pairs of muscles in the lateral neck, namely the anterior scalene, middle scalene, and posterior scalene. They are innervated by the third to the eight cervical spinal nerves (C3-C8). The anterior and m ...

at the root of the neck. The right lymphatic duct forms various combinations with the right

and right internal jugular vein. It is approximately 1.25 cm long.

Variations

A right lymphatic duct that enters directly into the junction of the internal jugular and subclavian veins is uncommon.

Function

Diagram showing the parts of the body the lymphatic and thoracic ducts drain CRUK 323

The right duct drains lymph fluid from: * the upper right section of the trunk, (right thoracic cavity, via the right

bronchomediastinal trunk The efferent vessels of the tracheobronchial lymph nodes ascend upon the trachea and unite with efferents of the internal mammary and anterior mediastinal glands to form the right and left bronchomediastinal trunks. The right bronchomediastinal ...

), * the right arm (via the right

subclavian trunk The efferent vessels of the subclavicular group unite to form the subclavian trunk, which opens either directly into the junction of the internal jugular and subclavian veins or into the jugular lymphatic trunk; on the left side it may end in the ...

), * and right side of the head and neck (via the right jugular trunk), * also, in some individuals, the lower lobe of the left lung. All other sections of the human body are drained by the thoracic duct.

Clinical significance

Along with the thoracic duct, the right lymphatic duct is one of the lymphatic structures most likely to be ruptured in the thorax. This can cause

chylothorax A chylothorax is an abnormal accumulation of chyle, a type of lipid-rich lymph, in the space surrounding the lung. The lymphatics of the digestive system normally returns lipids absorbed from the small bowel via the thoracic duct, which ascend ...

History

The discovery of this structure has been credited to

Niels Stensen Niels Steensen ( da, Niels Steensen; Latinization (literature), Latinized to ''Nicolaus Steno'' or ''Nicolaus Stenonius''; 1 January 1638 – 25 November 1686

Additional images

File:Gray621.png, Deep lymph nodes and vessels of the thorax and abdomen (diagrammatic).

References

External links

{{Authority control Lymphatics of the torso