732 



THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM 



External iliac nodes. — -These are likewise in three sets — external, middle, and 

 internal. The external chain consists of three or four nodes, the lowest one being 

 behind the crural arch. They receive: — -(1) some of the vessels of the superficial 

 and deep inguinal nodes; (2) vessels from the glans or clitoris, which come through 

 the inguinal canal; (3) vessels from the part of the abdominal wall supplied by the 

 deep epigastric and deep circumflex arteries, along which there may be a few 

 outlying nodes — the epigastric nodes. 



The middle chain consists of two or three nodes behind the artery. When 

 there are three, the lowest is likewise near the crural arch. It receives vessels 

 from the bladder, prostate, neck of the uterus, and upper portion of the vagina. 

 The internal chain consists of three or four nodes, and is the continuation of the 

 deep inguinal nodes. Its lowest nodes are likewise near the femoral ring, while the 

 next node is large and constant, and usually lies within the pelvis. This chain 



Fig. 575. — Ilio-pelvic Nodes. (Cun^o andlMarcille.) 



Left aortic node 



Right aortic node 



Node of the pro- 



montory 



Common iliac 



node 



External iliac 

 node 



Hypogastricnode — 



External iliac , 

 nodes '' 



Obturator artery- 



lllli [ Common iliac 



chain 



External iliac 

 chain 



Obturator nerve 



Obturator artery 

 External iliac node 



;;^Retrocrural node 

 Obturator node 



Hypogastric artery 



receives many vessels: — (1) from the superficial and deep inguinal nodes; (2) 

 from the glans and clitoris through the femoral canal; (3) from the abdominal 

 wall; (4) from the neighbourhood of the obturator vessels; (5) from the neck of 

 the bladder, the prostate, and membranous part of the urethra; (6) from the 

 hypogastric chain. 



Thus, to sum up the nodes of the external iliac chains: — they are a part of a 

 chain which includes the lumbar, common iliac, external iliac, and inguinal nodes. 

 It will })e noted that this extensive chain stops, for the most part, with the deep 

 inguinal group. The external iliac nodes reccnvc the effcrents of the superficial 

 and deep inguinal nodes; the middle and internal groups receive vessels from the 

 pelvis. Th(! efferent vessels of all tlu; nodes in the chain pass to the higher nodes. 



The hypogastric nodes |lgl. hypogastricic]. — Th(\se nodes are in groups near 

 the origin of the branches of the hypogastric (internal iliac) artery. Thus they 

 occur near the origin of the obturator, the uterine, or prostatic, the trunk of the 



