Sacral nodes !
The sacral nodes lie on the front of the sacrum, behind the rectum; they filter lymph from the back of the cervix and from the rectum.
Official name: Lateral sacral nodes
Opens in the Durgical app, no sign-up needed.
What it is
Lymph nodes in front of the sacrum.
What it does
Drain the back of the cervix, the rectum and the uterosacral ligaments.
Key facts
- Where
- In front of the sacrum along the lateral and median sacral vessels
- Drains
- Posterior cervix and vagina, rectum, uterosacral ligaments
- Into
- Internal and common iliac nodes
Relations
- Behind
- Sacrum and the anterior sacral foramina with the sacral nerve roots
- In front
- Rectum and mesorectum
- Lateral
- Internal iliac vessels and nodes
- Above
- Sacral promontory, above which their lymph continues to the common iliac nodes
How to find it
They cannot be felt reliably. On MRI or CT they are sought in the presacral space between the sacrum and the mesorectum; in surgery they are reached by lifting the rectum off the sacrum, where the presacral veins call for care.
On imaging
MRI and PET-CT judge presacral nodes; a presacral mass has many other causes (developmental cysts, nerve sheath tumours, chordoma), so the whole space is reviewed.
Clinical notes
- Presacral nodes are included in the pelvic nodal fields of radiotherapy for cervical cancer
- Disease recurring in the presacral space is hard to remove because it lies against the sacrum and the sacral nerves
- When pelvic nodes are irradiated for high-risk prostate cancer, the presacral nodes over the upper sacrum are usually included in the target
- An enlarged presacral node on imaging must be told apart from other masses of this space, such as a developmental cyst, a nerve sheath tumour or a chordoma
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Where do the sacral nodes lie?
In the presacral tissue behind the rectum, along the median and lateral sacral vessels.
Why are the uterosacral ligaments resected in radical hysterectomy, in relation to the sacral nodes?
Cervical cancer can spread along the uterosacral ligaments to the sacral nodes.
Why is disease recurring in the presacral space hard to remove?
It lies against the sacrum and the sacral nerves.
Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.
Its names
- Official Latin (TA2)
- nodi sacrales laterales TA2 5338
- Official Spanish (DeCS)
- Nódulos linfáticos sacros DeCS D008198
- English (TA2)
- Lateral sacral nodes
- Also called
- nodi sacrales
Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); DeCS; Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis: Lymphatic Drainage.
Spotted a mistake?We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it.Report a mistake
Representative model, for educational purposes only.
