During a left-sided neck dissection at the root of the neck, the surgeon inadvertently injures the terminal portion of the thoracic duct. Into which vessel does the thoracic duct normally terminate?

• A Left subclavian artery
• B Left brachiocephalic vein near the superior vena caval junction
• C Junction of the left subclavian and left internal jugular veins ✓
• D Left external jugular vein just above the clavicle

Explanation

The thoracic duct arches laterally at the level of the transverse process of B7 and terminates at the left venous angle, the junction of the left subclavian and left internal jugular veins behind the left sternoclavicular joint. Injury here produces chylous leak into the neck. The external jugular vein lies superficial to the sternocleidomastoid and receives no major lymphatic trunk, which kills option D.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.