Cisterna chyli

The cisterna chyli (or receptaculum chyli) is a dilated sac at the lower end of the thoracic duct into which the intestinal trunk and two lumbar lymphatic trunks flow.

Flow of lymph
It forms the primary lymph vessel transporting lymph and chyle from the abdomen to the left subclavian vein. It occurs inconsistently and when present is located posterior to the aorta on the anterior aspect of the bodies of the first and second lumbar vertebrae. The cisterna chyli receives fatty chyle from the intestines and thus acts as a conduit for the lipid products of digestion.