Lymph Vessels of the Bones of the Trunk (Vertebrae, Ribs, and Sternum)

The lymph vessels of the bones of the trunk mainly drain to lymph nodes located near the spine (medial retropharyngeal lymph node, caudal cervical lymph node, intercostal lymph node, lumbar aortic lymph nodes, hypogastric lymph nodes, sacral lymph nodes) as well as to the cranial mediastinal lymph nodes, almost exclusively the main cranial mediastinal lymph node, and to the sternal lymph node.

The lymph vessels of the cervical vertebrae drain to the medial retropharyngeal lymph node, the caudal cervical lymph node, and the cranial mediastinal lymph nodes, those of the thoracic vertebrae drain to the cranial mediastinal lymph nodes, the cranial lumbar aortic lymph node, and, if an intercostal lymph node is present, also to it, those of the lumbar vertebrae drain to the lumbar aortic lymph nodes (excluding the cranial lumbar aortic lymph node) and to the hypogastric lymph nodes, those of the sacrum drain to the hypogastric lymph nodes and the lateral and medial sacral lymph nodes, those of the coccygeal vertebrae drain to the lateral sacral lymph node and the hypogastric lymph nodes, those of the ribs drain to the cranial mediastinal lymph nodes, the sternal lymph node, and, if an intercostal lymph node is present, also to it, and those of the sternum drain to the sternal lymph node.