Internal iliac lymph nodes explained

Internal iliac lymph nodes
Latin:	nodi lymphoidei iliaci interni
Drainsto:	Common iliac lymph nodes

The internal iliac lymph nodes (or hypogastric) surround the internal iliac artery and its branches (the hypogastric vessels), and receive the lymphatics corresponding to the distribution of the branches of it, i. e., they receive lymphatics from all the pelvic viscera, from the deeper parts of the perineum, including the membranous and cavernous portions of the urethra, and from the buttock and back of the thigh. The internal iliac lymph nodes also drain the superior half of the rectum, above the pectinate line.^{[1] [2]}

It does not receive lymph from the ovary or testis, which drain to the paraaortic lymph nodes.

See also

• External iliac lymph nodes
• pararectal lymph nodes

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ano-Rectal Anatomy. University of Connecticut Health Center. 18 October 2014. 3 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141103122745/http://fitsweb.uchc.edu/student/selectives/Luzietti/Painful_anus_anorectal_anatomy.htm. dead.
2. Book: MD. Tao Le, MD, MHS, Vikas Bhushan, MD, Matthew Sochat, MD, Max Petersen, Goran Micevic, Kimberly Kallianos. First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 2014 : A Student-to-Student Guide. 2014. 978-0071831420.