Caudal mesenteric lymph nodes

The caudal mesenteric lymph nodes are located in the descending mesocolon either in direct contact with the descending colon or along the course of the branches of the caudal mesenteric artery. They are few in number in Carnivores and Rabbits, and sometimes absent in small Ruminants. In contrast, they are relatively smaller but more numerous in Cattle, Pigs, and Humans, and very numerous in Equids. They receive afferent vessels from the descending colon and the cranial part of the rectum, and send efferent vessels to the medial iliac lymph nodes or to the lumbar trunk (in humans) or the visceral trunk (in dogs, partially).

They are located beneath the lumbar peritoneum in humans (Inferior mesenteric nodes) because of the lack of descending mesocolon