Lymph nodes of the thorax, thoracic duct (dave's notes)

Question 1

What lymph nodes drain the middle part of the oesophagus? Where are these found?

Answer 1

Visceral preaortic nodes that lie in front of the aorta

Question 2

What drains the intercostal spaces of lymph?

Answer 2

Somatic para-aortic nodes, that lie alongside the aorta (posterior intercostal group)

Question 3

What do the somatic para-aortic nodes drain into?

Answer 3

Upper members drain into the thoracic or right lymphatic duct, lower members to the descending intercostal trunk

Question 4

What do the anterior ends of the intercostal spaces drain to?

Answer 4

The parasternal nodes, found lying alongside the internal thoracic artery

Question 5

What are the lower members of the parasternal group known as - and where are they found?

Answer 5

Found lying on the diaphragm between the pericardium and the xiphisternum - the anterior diaphragmatic nodes

Question 6

What are the lower members of the para-aortic group known as? Where are they found?

Answer 6

Lying on the diaphragm in the posterior mediastinum. Posterior diaphragmatic group.

Question 7

Where are the middle diaphragmatic nodes found and what do they drain?

Answer 7

On each side of the dome of the diaphragm, draining extra peritoneal areolar tissue beneath the diaphragm, and on th right side from the superficial part of the bare area of the liver.

Question 8

Where does the thoracic duct commence?

Answer 8

From the cisterna chyli at T12

Question 9

What is the course of the thoracic duct?

Answer 9

From the cisterna chyli at T12 it pass upwards to the right of the aorta, to the right of the oesophagus, then inclines to the left BEHIND the oesophagus to reach the left of the mediastinum.

Question 10

What does the thoracic duct lie anterior to?

Answer 10

The aortic intercostal branches

Question 11

Where does the thoracic duct drain?

Answer 11

At the point of confluence of the left internal jugular vein and the left subclavian vein, dividing into 2-3 separate branches with NO valves

Question 12

What does the thoracic duct receive lymph from?

Answer 12

The lower half of the body
The left posterior intercostal nodes
The left jugular and subclavian trunks

Question 13

What do the right thoracic wall, right head and neck, and right upper limb drain their lymph to? How?

Answer 13

Drainage of these areas may join together to drain into the right brachiocephalic trunk or independently into their respective veins.