lacteals

pl. [Lat. lacteus =milky, from las milk; the lacteals being at most times filled with a milky fluid called chyle.] Anat.: The lacteals received the name of vasa lactea in 1622 from A sell i us, their discoverer. From the specific word lactea , given to distinguish ve els of this cla , came the word lacteal . The lacteals and lymphatics properly constitute one system of ve els which convey a fluid or fluids from various organs of the body to the veins near their terminations in the heart. The fluid which these ve els convey is milky after a full meal, and called chyle, though, during intervals of fasting, it is a yellowish lymph, as in the lymphatics. Todd & Bowman: Phys . Anat. (1856), ii. 269-289). The lacteal ve els commence on the surface of the intestines, and unite with one another in the mesentery, and after leaving the mesenteric glands discharge their contents for the nourishment of the body into the receptaculum chyli , in front of the second lumbar vertebra. lăc-tě-an, a. [Lat. lacteus, from lac =milk.] 1. Resembling milk; milky. "This lactean whitene ariseth from a great number of little stars constipated in that part of heaven."Moxon: Astron . Cards , p. 13. 2. Conveying chyle; lacteal. Spalaceo, Ital latteo.] lăc-tě-ous, a. [Lat. lacteus, from lac =milk: 1. Resembling milk; milky. "Plants which have a white and lacteous juice dispersed through every part."- Browne : Vulgar Errors, bk. vi., ch. x. 2. Conveying chyle; lacteal. "The lungs are suitable for respiration, and the lao teous ve els for the reception of the chyle." -Bentley . lăc-tě-oŭs-lý, adv. [Eng. lacteous; -ly.] In a lacteous manner; in a manner resembling milk; lacteally.