Superior gluteal nodes

At a glance

English

Superior gluteal nodes

Latin (TA2)

Nodi glutei superiores

System

Lymphatic

Region

Trunk

Side

Paired, left and right

About the superior gluteal nodes

The superior gluteal nodes are part of the internal iliac chain on the side wall of the pelvis. They follow the superior gluteal artery, the largest branch of the posterior division of the internal iliac artery, close to where it passes out through the greater sciatic foramen above the upper border of piriformis. There are usually only a few, and they are small and hard to find unless they are enlarged.

Their partners are the inferior gluteal nodes, which follow the inferior gluteal artery below piriformis. Together the two sets are sometimes called the gluteal nodes, and they collect lymph that has come back into the pelvis from the deep tissues of the buttock.

Lymph reaches them from the deep structures of the upper buttock, including gluteus medius and gluteus minimus and the upper part of gluteus maximus, along vessels that accompany the branches of the superior gluteal artery. They also receive lymph from the posterior part of the pelvic wall. The skin and fat of the buttock, by contrast, drain mainly to the superficial inguinal nodes. From the superior gluteal nodes lymph runs to the main internal iliac nodes, then to the common iliac nodes and up to the lumbar nodes beside the aorta.

Clinically these nodes can enlarge with deep infections of the buttock or hip region and with tumours of the gluteal muscles or pelvic wall. Cancers of the rectum and other pelvic organs that spread along the internal iliac chain may also reach them. Because they lie near the superior gluteal nerve and vessels in the greater sciatic foramen, enlarged nodes here are approached with care in pelvic surgery.

Course and drainage

Begins at

Afferent vessels from the deep tissues of the upper buttock, mainly the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus and upper gluteus maximus, and from the posterior pelvic wall.

Drains into

Efferent vessels pass to the main internal iliac nodes and then to the common iliac nodes.

Drains

Filters lymph from the deep buttock and the back of the pelvic wall. Can enlarge in deep gluteal infection and receive spread from pelvic cancers moving along the internal iliac chain.