External iliac nodes

The external iliac lymph nodes are lymph nodes, from eight to ten in number, that lie along the external iliac vessels.

They are arranged in three groups, one on the lateral, another on the medial, and a third on the anterior aspect of the vessels; the third group is, however, sometimes absent.

Their principal afferents are derived from the inguinal lymph nodes, the deep lymphatics of the abdominal wall below the umbilicus and of the adductor region of the thigh, and the lymphatics from the glans penis, glans clitoridis, the membranous urethra, the prostate, the fundus of the urinary bladder, the cervix uteri, and upper part of the vagina.

Evacuation: Common iliac nodes

The external iliac nodes are divided between the following sub-groups:

• The medial external iliac nodes,
• the intermediate external iliac nodes,
• the lateral external iliac nodes,
• the medial lacunar node,
• the intermediate lacunar node,
• the lateral lacunar node,
• the interiliac nodes,
• the obturator nodes.