Summary
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 the muscular coat of the rectum
| Inferior mesenteric lymph nodes | |
|---|---|
 Lymphatics of colon. (Inferior mesenteric labeled at bottom center.) | |
 | |
| Details | |
| System | Lymphatic system |
| Drains to | preaortic lymph node |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nodi lymphoidei mesenterici inferiores |
| Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata] | |
Structure edit
The inferior mesenteric lymph nodes are lymph nodes present throughout the hindgut.[1]
Afferents edit
The inferior mesenteric lymph nodes drain structures related to the hindgut;[1] they receive lymph from the descending colon, sigmoid colon, and proximal part of the rectum.[2]
Efferents edit
They drain into the superior mesenteric lymph nodes and ultimately to the preaortic lymph nodes.[1] Lymph nodes surrounding the inferior mesenteric artery drain directly into the preaortic nodes.[1]
Clinical significance edit
Colorectal cancer may metastasise to the inferior mesenteric lymph nodes. For this reason, the inferior mesenteric artery may be removed in people with lymph node-positive cancer.[3] This has been proposed since at least 1908, by surgeon William Ernest Miles.[4]
Additional images edit
-
Regional lymph tissue -
Lymph Nodes of the Large Intestine and Lower Abdomen
References edit
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 710 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ a b c d Drake, Richard L.; Vogl, Wayne; Tibbitts, Adam W.M. Mitchell; illustrations by Richard; Richardson, Paul (2005). Gray's anatomy for students. Philadelphia: Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone. p. 307. ISBN 978-0-8089-2306-0.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Sobotta Anatomy Textbook. Friedrich Paulsen, Tobias M. Böckers, J. Waschke, Stephan Winkler, Katja Dalkowski, Jörg Mair, Sonja Klebe, Elsevier ClinicalKey. Munich. 2018. p. 345. ISBN 978-0-7020-6760-0. OCLC 1132300315.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Kim, J.C.; Lee, K.H.; Yu, C.S.; Kim, H.C.; Kim, J.R.; Chang, H.M.; Kim, J.H.; Kim, J.S.; Kim, T.W. (2004). "The clinicopathological significance of inferior mesenteric lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer". European Journal of Surgical Oncology. 30 (3): 271–279. doi:10.1016/j.ejso.2003.12.002. PMID 15028308.
- ^ Pezim, M. E.; Nicholls, R. J. (1984). "Survival after high or low ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery during curative surgery for rectal cancer". Annals of Surgery. 200 (6): 729–733. doi:10.1097/00000658-198412000-00010. PMC 1250590. PMID 6508403.
