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 o ...
, 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, 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 ...
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 is ...
and
splenic lymph nodes. 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 intestine ...
,
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 ...
and
mesocolic lymph nodes.
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, but the majority unite to form the
intestinal lymph trunk, 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
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