Figure 1.

Schematic drawing of the three sections of the thoracic duct. The thoracic duct was divided into three anatomical sections. The lower section ascending along the right side of the oesophagus is located between the level of the aortic hiatus of the left hemidiaphragm and the level where the thoracic duct begins to turn to the left side of the oesophagus (the Th5 level). The middle section is located between the level where the thoracic duct inclines to the left side (the Th5 level) from the right side of the oesophagus and the level of the aortic arch. The upper section is located above the level of the aortic arch.