Lateral aortic lymph nodes

There are two groups of lateral aortic lymph nodes: right and left.

Right lateral aortic glands
The right lateral aortic glands are situated partly in front of the inferior vena cava, near the termination of the renal vein, and partly behind it on the origin of the Psoas major, and on the right crus of the diaphragm.

Left lateral aortic glands
The left lateral aortic glands form a chain on the left side of the abdominal aorta in front of the origin of the Psoas major and left crus of the diaphragm.

The glands on either side receive
 * (a) the efferents of the common iliac glands
 * (b) the lymphatics from the testis in the male and from the ovary, uterine tube, and body of the uterus in the female
 * (c) the lymphatics from the kidney and suprarenal gland
 * (d) the lymphatics draining the lateral abdominal muscles and accompanying the lumbar veins

Most of the efferent vessels of the lateral aortic glands converge to form the right and left lumbar trunks which join the cisterna chyli, but some enter the pre- and retroaortic glands, and others pierce the crura of the diaphragm to join the lower end of the thoracic duct.