What is the name of the lymphatic vessel that absorbs most of the lymph?

Prepare for the CIDESCO Certification Exam with our quiz. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

The thoracic duct is the primary lymphatic vessel responsible for absorbing and transporting most of the lymph from the body. It serves as a major channel that collects lymph from the lower limbs, abdomen, left arm, and the left side of the head and neck. The thoracic duct then empties the collected lymph into the left subclavian vein, which allows it to re-enter the circulatory system.

This vessel is significantly larger than the right lymphatic duct, which only collects lymph from the right upper quadrant of the body and drains into the right subclavian vein. The cisterna chyli is an expanded sac at the lower end of the thoracic duct, acting as a reservoir for lymph from the digestive organs but is not the vessel that absorbs most of the lymph. The subclavian vein is not a lymphatic vessel; rather, it is a major vein that returns blood to the heart, receiving lymph from the thoracic duct but not absorbing lymph itself. Thus, the thoracic duct is the correct choice as it plays a central role in lymphatic circulation.

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