The preaortic lymph nodes lie in front of the aorta

Aorta

The aorta is the largest artery in the body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it branches off into two smaller arteries...

, and may be divided into celiac lymph nodes

Celiac lymph nodes

The visceral glands are associated with the branches of the celiac, superior and inferior mesenteric arteries. Those related to the branches of the celiac artery form three sets, gastric, hepatic, and pancreaticolienal.* gastric lymph nodes* hepatic lymph nodes* splenic lymph nodes-External links:*...

, superior mesenteric lymph nodes

Superior mesenteric lymph nodes

The superior mesenteric lymph nodes may be divided into three principal groups:* mesenteric lymph nodes* ileocolic lymph nodes* mesocolic lymph nodes-Afferents:...

, and inferior mesenteric lymph nodes

Inferior mesenteric lymph nodes

The inferior mesenteric glands consist of:* small glands on the branches of the left colic and sigmoid arteries* a group in the sigmoid mesocolon, around the superior hemorrhoidal artery...

 groups, arranged around the origins of the corresponding arteries.

They receive a few vessels from the lateral aortic glands, but their principal afferents are derived from the viscera supplied by the three arteries with which they are associated.

Some of their efferents pass to the retroaortic glands, but the majority unite to form the intestinal trunk, which enters the cisterna chyli

Cisterna chyli

The cisterna chyli is a dilated sac at the lower end of the thoracic duct into which lymph from the intestinal trunk and two lumbar lymphatic trunks flow.-Flow of lymph:...

.

External links

• http://www.instantanatomy.net/thorax/vessels/lnodes.html