The SOAP message path is the set of SOAP nodes through which a single SOAP message passes. This includes the initial SOAP sender, zero or more SOAP intermediaries, and an ultimate SOAP receiver
A SOAP intermediary is both a SOAP receiver and a SOAP sender. It can (and in some cases must) process the header blocks in the SOAP message, and it forwards the SOAP message towards its ultimate receiver.
The ultimate SOAP receiver is the final destination of a SOAP message. As well as processing the header blocks, it is responsible for processing the SOAP body. In some circumstances, a SOAP message might not reach an ultimate SOAP receiver, for example because of a problem at a SOAP intermediary.