Lymph Vessels of the Skin of the Dorsal, Lateral, and Ventral Abdominal Wall

A. Cranial to a Transverse Plane Through the Last Rib

The lymph vessels of the part of the abdominal wall (Figure 13) that is cranial to the transverse plane that occurs upon cutting through the last rib all drain into the axillary lymph node, accompanying the lymph vessels of the lateral wall of the chest (see lymph vessels of the lateral wall of the chest).

B. Caudal to a Transverse Plane Through the Last Rib

The lymph vessels of the part of the abdominal wall that is caudal to the aforementioned transverse plane either drain into the superficial inguinal lymph nodes (Figure 13: 15) (specifically, the lymph vessels of the skin on the ventral abdominal wall and the ventral half of the lateral abdominal wall) or to the medial iliac lymph node (Figure 13: 14) (specifically, the lymph vessels of the skin on the dorsal abdominal wall and the dorsal half of the lateral abdominal wall).