External iliac nodes

The external iliac lymph nodes are lymph nodes, from eight to ten in number, that lie along the external iliac vessels.

They are arranged in three groups, one on the lateral, another on the medial, and a third on the anterior aspect of the vessels; the third group is, however, sometimes absent:

• The medial group (Medial external iliac nodes) is located medial or posteromedial to the external iliac vessels. The medial group is sometimes referred to as the obturator lymph nodes but it's a separate term in the Terminologia anatomica.

• The middle group (intermediate external iliac nodes) lies between the external iliac artery and vein.

• The lateral group (Lateral external iliac nodes) is lateral to the external iliac artery

A subgroup of external iliac lymph nodes is located in the vascular space with the medial lacunar node, intermediate lacunar node, lateral lacunar node.

The interiliac nodes in in the fork between the internal and external illiac arteries belon to the external iliac lymph nodes.

The principal afferents of the external iliac lymph nodes are derived from the inguinal lymph nodes, the deep lymphatics of the abdominal wall below the umbilicus and of the adductor region of the thigh, and the lymphatics from the glans penis, glans clitoridis, the membranous urethra, the prostate, the fundus of the urinary bladder, the cervix uteri, and upper part of the vagina.