Lymph Vessels of the Abdominal Muscles

The lymph vessels of the abdominal muscles drain to the medial iliac lymph node, the cranial lumbar aortic lymph node, the intercostal lymph node, the cranial mediastinal lymph nodes, specifically the main cranial mediastinal lymph node, and the sternal lymph node. The lymph vessels of the M. obliquus abdominis externus, M. obliquus abdominis internus and M. transversus abdominis drain to all the aforementioned lymph node groups, and the lymph vessels of the M. rectus abdominis drain to the medial iliac lymph node and the sternal lymph node. In 1 case in which the deep inguinal lymph node was present, the lymph vessels from the M. obliquus abdominis internus drained to it, but since this lymph node rarely occurs, this finding is not significant.