Quick Facts
Location: Lateral side of pericardium.
Drainage: Lateral pericardium and mediastinal pleura.
Direction of Flow: Prepericarial lymph nodes > parasternal lymph nodes > Bronchomediastinal trunk > Thoracic duct or right lymphatic duct.
Description: (Location & Drainage)
The lateral pericardial lymph nodes are located along the lateral side of the pericardium and accompany the phrenic nerve and pericardiacophrenic vessels. These nodes receive afferent vessels that drain the mediastinal pleura and the lateral portion of the pericardium. They also receive lymph from the lateral group of superior diaphragmatic lymph nodes. The efferent lateral pericardial lymph vessels drain into the prepericardial lymph nodes, which in turn drain into the parasternal lymph nodes. Lymph is returned to the bronchomediastinal trunks and the right lymphatic duct or thoracic duct (Földi et al., 2012).
References
Földi, M., Földi, E., Strößenreuther, R. and Kubik, S. (2012) Földi's Textbook of Lymphology: for Physicians and Lymphedema Therapists. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Thoracic Lymph Nodes
The thoracic lymph node flap harvests lymph nodes at the lower axilla based on branches from the thoracodorsal or lateral thoracic vessels.
