Inferior mesenteric lymph nodes

Inferior mesenteric lymph nodes
Lymphatics of colon. (Inferior mesenteric labeled at bottom center.)
Details
Drains to	preaortic lymph node
Latin	nodi lymphoidei mesenterici inferiores
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

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

Structure

The inferior mesenteric lymph nodes are lymph nodes present throughout the hindgut.^[1]

Function

The inferior mesenteric lymph nodes drain structures related to the hindgut. The lymph nodes 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]

They drain the descending colon and sigmoid parts of the colon and the upper part of the rectum.

Clinical significance

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.^[2] This has been proposed since at least 1908, by surgeon William Ernest Miles.^[3]

Additional images

• 
  Regional lymph tissue
• 
  Lymph Nodes of the Large Intestine and Lower Abdomen

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

1. 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.
2. 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 (EJSO). 30 (3): 271–279. doi:10.1016/j.ejso.2003.12.002.
3. 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 Surgical Review. 200 (6): 729–733. doi:10.1097/00000658-198412000-00010. PMC 1250590. PMID 6508403.