Human Anatomy - Kotsan I. Y. 2009

The Lymphatic System
Lymphatic vessels and regional lymph nodes of individual body regions
Lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes of the pelvis

The pelvic Lymph Nodes are divided into parietal and visceral groups.

The parietal pelvic lymph nodes lie against the pelvic walls and are located near major Blood Vessels. They include the external, internal, and common iliac lymph nodes. The external iliac lymph nodes (nodi lymphatici iliaci externi) are situated near the external iliac artery and vein, forming medial, lateral, and intermediate chains (located in the groove between the vessels). On the lateral wall of the lesser pelvis, near the internal iliac artery, there are 4–8 internal iliac lymph nodes (nodi lymphatici iliaci interni). Efferent Lymphatic vessels from the external and internal iliac lymph nodes drain into the common iliac lymph nodes (nodi lymphatici iliaci communes); numbering 2–10, these nodes lie adjacent to the common iliac artery and vein and also form lateral, intermediate, and medial chains. The medial chain of the common iliac lymph nodes terminates in 1–2 nodes (common to both the right and left walls) situated directly at the Water/144.html">Origin of the common iliac Arteries from the Abdominal Aorta (below the aortic bifurcation)—these are the subaortic lymph nodes (nodi lymphatici subaortici). Efferent lymphatic vessels from the common iliac and subaortic lymph nodes lead to the lumbar lymph nodes, which lie alongside the abdominal aorta and INFERIOR VENA CAVA.

The visceral pelvic lymph nodes are associated with the pelvic Organs located within the lesser pelvis cavity (for example, the paravesical, pararectal, parauterine, and paravaginal lymph nodes / nodi lymphatici paravesicales, pararectales, parauterini, paravaginales). Efferent lymphatic vessels from the visceral lymph nodes drain into the iliac nodes—primarily the common iliac nodes—and the subaortic nodes. Some lymphatic vessels, including those from the Ovaries, ascend directly to the lumbar lymph nodes.



Last update: 08/08/2026

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