Lateral aortic nodes
Nodi aortici latérales
Lymph nodes along the left flank of the abdominal aorta, forming the left lumbar chain on the posterior abdominal wall.
At a glance
- English
- Lateral aortic nodes
- Latin (TA2)
- Nodi aortici latérales
- System
- Lymphatic
- Region
- Trunk
- Side
- Single, on the midline
About the lateral aortic nodes
The lateral aortic nodes make up the left part of the lumbar nodes. They flank the aorta on its left, from the aortic hiatus down to the bifurcation, resting on the left crus of the diaphragm above and on psoas major and the sympathetic trunk lower down. Their partners are the pre-aortic nodes in front of the aorta, the retro-aortic nodes behind it, and the intermediate lumbar nodes between it and the inferior vena cava.
The chain is behind the peritoneum and close to several important structures: the left renal vessels cross it, the left ureter descends just lateral to it, and the inferior mesenteric vein runs up nearby. It is continuous below with the common iliac nodes and above with the nodes near the coeliac trunk.
Lymph reaches it from two directions. From below come the efferents of the common iliac nodes, bringing lymph that has already passed through the pelvic and lower limb nodes. Directly, it receives vessels from the left kidney, left suprarenal gland, left ureter and the muscles of the posterior abdominal wall. A few vessels go on to the pre-aortic and retro-aortic nodes, but most join to form the left lumbar trunk, which ends in the cisterna chyli.
The chain is an important site in staging cancers of the left kidney and of pelvic organs that have reached the common iliac nodes. It often enlarges in lymphoma, and it is sampled or cleared in a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, where the surgeon works close to the aorta and left renal vein.
Course and drainage
- Begins at
- Efferent vessels of the common iliac nodes, and direct vessels from the left kidney, left suprarenal gland, left ureter and posterior abdominal wall.
- Drains into
- Efferent vessels form the left lumbar trunk to the cisterna chyli; a few pass to the pre-aortic and retro-aortic nodes.
- Drains
- Collects lymph from the left side of the posterior abdomen and, at second hand, from the pelvis and left lower limb. Its nodes are checked in staging renal and pelvic cancers and often enlarge in lymphoma.
Anthromica
See the lateral aortic nodes where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
