Quick Facts
Location: Surrounding the esophagus and descending thoracic aorta.
Drainage: Respiratory diaphragm, diaphragmatic pleura, esophagus, and pericardium.
Direction of Flow: Tracheobronchial lymph nodes > paratracheal lymph nodes > bronchomediastinal trunk > right lymphatic duct or thoracic duct.
Description: (Location & Drainage)
The posterior mediastinal lymph nodes are located around the esophagus and descending thoracic aorta. There are three groups:
—juxtaesophageal lymph nodes;
—juxtaaortic lymph nodes;
—interaorticoesophgeal lymph nodes (Földi et al., 2012).
The afferent vessels of the posterior mediastinal lymph nodes originate along the respiratory diaphragm and its associated diaphragmatic pleura, the esophagus, and pericardium. The efferent vessels drain into the nodes surrounding the tracheal bifurcation, the superior and inferior tracheobronchial lymph nodes.
References
Földi, M., Földi, E., Strößenreuther, R. and Kubik, S. (2012) Földi's Textbook of Lymphology: for Physicians and Lymphedema Therapists. Elsevier Health Sciences.
