| Cisterna chyli | |
|---|---|
 Cisterna chyli is the white bulb in the center near the bottom. | |
 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. | |
| Details | |
| System | Lymphatic system |
| Source | Intestinal trunk, lumbar trunks, retroaortic lymph nodes |
| Drains to | Thoracic duct |
| Identifiers | |
| TA98 | A12.4.01.012 |
| TA2 | 5145 |
| FMA | 5835 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The cisterna chyli or receptaculum chyli (chy·li pronounced: ˈkī-ˌlī) is a dilated sac at the lower end of the thoracic duct in most mammals into which lymph from the intestinal trunk and two lumbar lymphatic trunks flow. It 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. The cisterna chyli is a retroperitoneal structure.