The preaortic lymph nodes lie in front of the

aorta The aorta ( ) is the main and largest artery in the human body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it splits into two smaller arteries (the common iliac arteries). The aorta distributes ...

, and may be divided into

celiac lymph nodes The celiac lymph nodes are associated with the branches of the celiac artery. Other lymph nodes in the abdomen are associated with the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries. The celiac lymph nodes are grouped into three sets: the gastric ...

superior mesenteric lymph nodes The superior mesenteric lymph nodes may be divided into three principal groups: * mesenteric lymph nodes * ileocolic lymph nodes * mesocolic lymph nodes Structure Mesenteric lymph nodes The mesenteric lymph nodes or mesenteric glands are one of ...

, and

inferior mesenteric lymph nodes The inferior mesenteric lymph nodes consist of: * (a) small glands on the branches of the left colic and sigmoid arteries * (b) a group in the sigmoid mesocolon, around the superior hemorrhoidal artery * (c) a pararectal group in contact with th ...

groups, arranged around the origins of the corresponding arteries. The celiac lymph nodes are grouped into three sets: the

gastric The stomach is a muscular, hollow organ in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and many other animals, including several invertebrates. The stomach has a dilated structure and functions as a vital organ in the digestive system. The stomach i ...

hepatic The liver is a major organ only found in vertebrates which performs many essential biological functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the synthesis of proteins and biochemicals necessary for digestion and growth. In humans, it i ...

and

splenic lymph nodes The splenic lymph nodes are found at the splenic hilum and in relation to the tail of the pancreas (pancreaticolienal lymph nodes). Their afferents are derived from the stomach, spleen, and pancreas The pancreas is an organ of the digestive ...

. These groups also form their own subgroups. The superior mesenteric lymph nodes are grouped into three sets: the

mesenteric The mesentery is an organ that attaches the intestines to the posterior abdominal wall in humans and is formed by the double fold of peritoneum. It helps in storing fat and allowing blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves to supply the intestines ...

ileocolic In many Animalia, including humans, an ileocolic structure or problem is something that concerns the region of the gastrointestinal tract from the ileum to the colon. In Animalia that have ceca, the ileocecal region is a subset of the ileocolic r ...

and

mesocolic lymph nodes The superior mesenteric lymph nodes may be divided into three principal groups: * mesenteric lymph nodes * ileocolic lymph nodes * mesocolic lymph nodes Structure Mesenteric lymph nodes The mesenteric lymph nodes or mesenteric glands are one of ...

. The inferior mesenteric lymph nodes have a subgroup of

pararectal lymph nodes The pararectal lymph nodes are lymph nodes that are in contact with the muscular coat of the rectum. Structure The pararectal lymph nodes are located on the left and right of the rectum. Their efferent lymph ducts pass to the pre-aortic lymph n ...

. The preaortic lymph nodes receive a few vessels from the

lateral aortic lymph nodes The periaortic lymph nodes (also known as lumbar) are a group of lymph nodes that lie in front of the lumbar vertebrae near the aorta. These lymph nodes receive drainage from the gastrointestinal tract and the abdominal organs. The periaortic lymp ...

, but their principal afferents are derived from the organs supplied by the three arteries with which they are associated–the celiac, superior and inferior mesenteric arteries. Some of their efferents pass to the

retroaortic lymph nodes The retroaortic lymph nodes (or postaortic lymph nodes) are placed below the cisterna chyli, on the bodies of the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae. They receive lymphatic trunks from the lateral and preaortic glands, while their efferents end i ...

, but the majority unite to form the

intestinal lymph trunk The intestinal trunk receives the lymph from the stomach and intestine, from the pancreas and spleen, and from the lower and front part of the liver, and empties lymph into the cisterna chyli, which in turn drains into the thoracic duct In huma ...

, which enters the

cisterna chyli The cisterna chyli (or cysterna chyli, and etymologically more correct, receptaculum chyli) is a dilated sac at the lower end of the thoracic duct in most mammals into which lymph from the intestinal trunk and two lumbar lymphatic trunks flow. It ...

Additional images

File:Gray621.png, Deep lymph nodes and vessels of the thorax and abdomen.

References

External links

* http://www.instantanatomy.net/thorax/vessels/lnodes.html Lymphatics of the torso {{Portal bar, Anatomy