The arterial blood supply of human inguinal and mesenteric lymph nodes

Injection of the arterial tree supplying human inguinal (superficial) and mesenteric (deep) lymph nodes was performed using a barium sulphate suspension. Radiography and histological examination showed two distinct types of arterial supply to lymph nodes. The superficial inguinal nodes are generally supplied by a single artery which penetrates the hilum and then radiates outwards to the lymph node pulp. The deep mesenteric lymph nodes, in contrast, are invariably supplied by several separate arteries which penetrate the nodal capsule, enter the trabeculae and run centripetally. These differences reflect the microanatomical differences in structure between deep and superficial lymph nodes. The two types of blood supply may be responsible for the different patterns of ischaemia found in deep and superficial lymph nodes. The findings re-emphasise the heterogeneous character of lymph nodes in man.