| Structure | Location | Afferents from | Efferents to | Regions drained | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cisterna chyli | between the abdominal aorta and the inferior vena cava anterior to the body of the L1 or L2 vertebra | right and & left lumbar trunks; possibly the intestinal trunk | thoracic duct | all of the body below the respiratory diaphragm; all of the abdominal and pelvic viscera | cisterna chyli is an enlargement of the lower end of the thoracic duct; it occurs in about 25% of individuals |
| iliac nodes, common | along the common iliac vessels; over the sacral promontory | external iliac nodes, internal iliac nodes | lumbar (lateral aortic) chain of nodes | lower limb; pelvic organs, perineum, lower part of the anterior abdominal wall | common iliac nodes are approximately 6 in number |
| iliac nodes, external | along the external iliac vessels | superficial inguinal nodes; deep inguinal nodes; inferior epigastric nodes | common iliac nodes | lower limb; external genitalia; lower part of the anterior abdominal wall | external iliac nodes are 8 to 10 in number |
| iliac nodes, internal | along the internal iliac vessels | lymphatic vessels from the pelvic viscera | common iliac nodes, external iliac nodes | pelvis, perineum and gluteal region | internal iliac nodes are 4 to 8 in number |
| inguinal nodes, deep | along the medial side of the femoral v. deep to the fascia lata and inguinal ligament | superficial inguinal nodes, popliteal nodes | external iliac nodes | lower limb, external genitalia, lower part of the anterior abdominal wall | the deep inguinal node in the femoral canal is called the node (or gland) of Cloquet |
| inguinal nodes, superficial | in the superficial fascia parallel to the inguinal ligament and along the terminal part of the greater saphenous v. | lymphatic vessels from the superficial lower limb, superficial abdominal wall, perineum | external iliac nodes; deep inguinal nodes | lower abdominal wall; external genitalia; superficial parts of the lower limb | superficial inguinal nodes are 12-20 in number; they become inflamed during infections of the lower limb; they may become inflamed during infections of the external genitalia |
| internal iliac nodes | along the internal iliac vessels | lymphatic vessels from the pelvic viscera | common iliac nodes, external iliac nodes | pelvis, perineum and gluteal region | internal iliac nodes are 4 to 8 in number |
| lateral aortic nodes | along the inferior vena cava and abdominal aorta from the aortic bifurcation to the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm | common iliac nodes; lymphatic vessels from the posterior abdominal wall and viscera | efferents form one lumbar trunk on each side | lower limb; pelvic organs; perineum; anterior and posterior abdominal wall; kidney; suprarenal gland; respiratory diaphragm | also known as: lumbar nodes; the intestinal trunk drains into to the left lumbar trunk; the lumbar trunks unite to form the thoracic duct/cisterna chyli |
| lumbar nodes | along the inferior vena cava and abdominal aorta from the aortic bifurcation to the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm | common iliac nodes; lymphatic vessels from the posterior abdominal wall and viscera | efferents form one lumbar trunk on each side | lower limb; pelvic organs; perineum; anterior and posterior abdominal wall; kidney; suprarenal gland; respiratory diaphragm | also known as: lateral aortic nodes; the intestinal trunk drains into to the left lumbar trunk; the lumbar trunks unite to form the thoracic duct/cisterna chyli |
| lumbar trunk | between the lumbar vertebral bodies and inferior vena cava (right) or aorta (left) at the upper end of the lumbar chain of nodes | lumbar (lateral aortic) nodes; the intestinal trunk joins the left lumbar trunk | thoracic duct/cisterna chyli | left lumbar trunk - left side of the body below the respiratory diaphragm, gut; right lumbar trunk - right side of body below the diaphragm | lumbar trunks unite to form the lower end of the thoracic duct; an enlargement of the lower end of the thoracic duct (called the cisterna chyli) occurs in about 25% of individuals, and when it is present, the lumbar trunks drain into it |
| mesenteric nodes, inferior | around the root of the inferior mesenteric a. | peripheral nodes located along the marginal a. | lumbar chain of nodes, superior mesenteric nodes | distal 1/3 of the transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum | inferior mesenteric nodes may number as high as 90; an important node group in cases of cancer of the colon and rectum |
| pararectal nodes | along the course of the superior rectal vessels | lymphatic vessels from the rectum and anal canal | inferior mesenteric nodes | rectum and anal canal | pararectal nodes are small lymph nodes that are not well localized |
| sacral nodes | along the course of the lateral sacral aa. | lymphatic vessels from the pelvic viscera | common iliac nodes | prostate gland, uterus, vagina, rectum, posterior pelvic wall | sacral nodes are 2 or 3 in number |