chyle The milky fluid which travels in the lymphatic vessels draining the small intestine. It contains most of the products of digestion of the fat content of a meal, which are absorbed into the microscopic lacteals in the villi that project from the intestinal lining. Chyle is a particular type of lymph — the general term for fluid drained from body tissues; it flows into progressively larger channels to join lymph from other parts of the body in the thoracic duct in the chest, and thence reaches the bloodstream.

Stuart Judge

chyle A milky fluid consisting of lymph that contains absorbed food materials (especially emulsified fats). Most chyle occurs in the lymphatic ducts (lacteals) in the villi of the small intestine during the absorption of fat.

chyle (kyl) n. an alkaline milky liquid found within the lacteals after a period of absorption. It consists of lymph with a suspension of minute droplets of digested fats (triglycerides), which have been absorbed from the small intestine.

chyle See lymph.