Superior mesenteric nodes

Looks like

Up to about 200 nodes in the mesentery of the small bowel and along the vessels of the right colon.

What it does

Filter lymph and absorbed fat from the small bowel and right colon.

Keeping it well

Bowel cancer surgery removes at least 12 nodes for staging. In children, swollen mesenteric nodes can mimic appendicitis.

Its parts

• Appendicular nodes
• Central superior mesenteric nodes
• Ileocolic nodes
• Juxta-intestinal mesenteric nodes
• Middle colic nodes
• Paracolic superior mesenteric nodes
• Precaecal nodes
• Retrocaecal nodes
• Right colic nodes

Related conditions

• Testicular cancer