The cisterna chyli, or receptaculum chyli, is the most common drainage trunk for most of the body’s lymphatics. It is an irregularly elongated expansion of the lower end of the thoracic duct situated anterior to body of the first and second lumbar vertebrae posterior to the aorta. It receives lymph from the abdomen and acts as a conduit for digestive lipid products by receiving chyle from the intestines. It transports lymph and chyle to the junction of the left subclavian and internal jugular veins.

Citerne du chyle