The internal iliac lymph nodes (or hypogastric) surround the
internal iliac artery
The internal iliac artery (formerly known as the hypogastric artery) is the main artery of the pelvis.
Structure
The internal iliac artery supplies the walls and viscera of the pelvis, the buttock, the reproductive organs, and the medial compa ...
and its branches (the ''hypogastric vessels''), and receive the
lymphatics
The lymphatic vessels (or lymph vessels or lymphatics) are thin-walled vessels (tubes), structured like blood vessels, that carry lymph. As part of the lymphatic system, lymph vessels are complementary to the cardiovascular system. Lymph vessel ...
corresponding to the distribution of the branches of it, i. e., they receive lymphatics from all the pelvic viscera, from the deeper parts of the
perineum
The perineum in humans is the space between the anus and scrotum in the male, or between the anus and the vulva in the female. The perineum is the region of the body between the pubic symphysis (pubic arch) and the coccyx (tail bone), includi ...
, including the membranous and cavernous portions of the
urethra
The urethra (from Greek οὐρήθρα – ''ourḗthrā'') is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the urinary meatus for the removal of urine from the body of both females and males. In human females and other primates, the urethra c ...
, and from the
buttock
The buttocks (singular: buttock) are two rounded portions of the exterior anatomy of most mammals, located on the posterior of the pelvic region. In humans, the buttocks are located between the lower back and the perineum. They are compose ...
and back of the
thigh
In human anatomy, the thigh is the area between the hip ( pelvis) and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the lower limb.
The single bone in the thigh is called the femur. This bone is very thick and strong (due to the high proportion of ...
. The internal iliac lymph nodes also drain the superior half of the rectum, above the
pectinate line.
It does not receive lymph from the
ovary or
testis
A testicle or testis (plural testes) is the male reproductive gland or gonad in all bilaterians, including humans. It is homologous to the female ovary. The functions of the testes are to produce both sperm and androgens, primarily testostero ...
, which drain to the
paraaortic 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 lym ...
.
Additional images
File:Lymph node regions.svg, Regional lymph tissue
File:Gray623.png, Deep lymph nodes and vessels of the thorax and abdomen.
See also
*
External iliac lymph nodes
The external iliac lymph nodes are lymph nodes, from eight to ten in number, that lie along the external iliac vessels.
They are arranged in three groups, one on the lateral, another on the medial, and a third on the anterior aspect of the vessel ...
*
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 ...
References
{{Portal bar, Anatomy
Lymphatics of the torso