The right lymphatic duct is an important

lymphatic vessel The lymphatic vessels (or lymph vessels or lymphatics) are thin-walled vessels (tubes), structured like blood vessels, that carry lymph. As part of the lymphatic system, lymph vessels are complementary to the cardiovascular system. Lymph ves ...

that drains the right upper quadrant of the body. 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 absorptio ...

and right

internal jugular vein The internal jugular vein is a paired jugular vein that collects blood from the brain and the superficial parts of the face and neck. This vein runs in the carotid sheath with the common carotid artery and vagus nerve. It begins in the poste ...

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

. 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 Lymph (from Latin, , meaning "water") is the fluid that flows through the lymphatic system, a system composed of lymph vessels (channels) and intervening lymph nodes whose function, like the venous system, is to return fluid from the tissues ...

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 th ...

), * 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 In human anatomy, the thoracic duct is the larger of the two lymph ducts of the lymphatic system. It is also known as the ''left lymphatic duct'', ''alimentary duct'', ''chyliferous duct'', and ''Van Hoorne's canal''. The other duct is the rig ...

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 The thorax or chest is a part of the anatomy of humans, mammals, and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen. In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main divisions of the c ...

. 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 as ...

History

The discovery of this structure has been credited to

Niels Stensen Niels Steensen ( da, Niels Steensen; Latinized to ''Nicolaus Steno'' or ''Nicolaus Stenonius''; 1 January 1638 – 25 November 1686Lymphatics of the torso