Talk:Thoracic duct

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THE THORACIC DUCT

COURSE Is the largest lymphatic vessel in the body. It drains the lower limbs, the abdomen and the left half of the upper trunk (left arm, left thorax, left neck and left half of the head) It begins at the level of the lower border of T12 as a continuation of cisterna chyli - a confluence of several lymphatics of the abdomen and lower limbs, enter the thorax through the aortic opening of the diaphragm to ascend in the posterior mediastinum on the right side of the oesophagus between the thoracic aorta and the azygos vein upto the level of T5 where it decussates to the left side behind the oesophagus and runs upwards in the superior mediastinum on the left side of the oesophagus between the oesophagus and the trachea together with tyhe left recurrent laryngeal nerve upto the neck. In the neck, it arches behind the carotid sheath for about 3-4 cm and then descends to terminate at the confluence between the left subclavian vein and the left internal jugular vein.

RELATIONS ANTERIOR At the aortic orifice diaphram, right pleural recess and the