LYMPHATIC VESSELS AND NODES OF ABDOMEN 299 



The lumbar nodes comprise a middle and two lateral groups. 

 The former lie around the aorta and vena cava, the latter 

 beneath the psoas. Most of the efferent vessels join to form, 

 on each side, the lumbar lymphatic trunk, which runs into 

 beginning of the thoracic duct. 



The lymphatics of the kidney, deep and superficial, join the 

 middle lumbar set after receiving the suprarenal lymphatics 

 and some from the ureter. 



The lymphatics from the testicles, superficial and deep, 

 through the inguinal canal, in the cord, to join the lumbar 

 nodes. 



The deep lymphatics of the abdominal wall receive others 

 from the spinal canal and muscles, and join the lateral lumbar 

 nodes. At the upper part they enter the sternal nodes. 



About one hundred and fifty mesenteric nodes lie between 

 the layers of the mesentery in the arterial arches and around 

 the superior mesenteric artery. 



The lacteals form one plexus beneath the mucous membrane 

 and one in the muscular coat, and leave the intestine at the 

 attachment of the mesentery to enter the mesenteric nodes, 

 and, emerging, join the efferent vessels from the celiac nodes 

 and form a single trunk. This intestinal lymphatic trunk 

 joins the thoracic duct. 



Sixteen to twenty celiac nodes, around the celiac axis and 

 adjacent aorta, receive the lymphatics from the stomach, 

 spleen, pancreas, and a large part of the liver. 



The lymphatics of the stomach traverse the gastric nodes 

 at the greater and lesser curvature and join the celiac nodes. 

 From the left end they join the splenic lymphatics. 



The lymphatics of the spleen, superficial and deep, enter 

 the celiac nodes after receiving the pancreatic vessels. 



The lymphatics of the liver are superficial and deep. The 

 superficial on the upper surface are arranged in four groups: 

 (1) The mesial, from both lobes, run through the diaphragm 

 to the anterior mediastinal nodes; (2) the lateral of each lobe to 

 the celiac nodes; (3) the posterior, through the diaphragm to the 

 nodes around the inferior vena cava; (4) an anterior group 

 joins those on the inferior surface. 



The superficial lymphatics on the lower surface run to the 

 transverse fissure, for the most part, to join with the deep 

 lymphatics. Some join the gastric lymphatics. 



