lymph drainage
Last reviewed 01/2018
| Organs drained | Lymph nodes |
| skin of the penis and scrotum | inguinal |
| coverings of the testis and spermatic cord | common iliac |
| testes | para-aortic |
In the very rare case of para-aortic lymph node enlargement, they may be palpated in the upper half of the epigastrium. This is because the umbilicus marks the bifurcation point of the aorta and therefore the abdominal aorta lies above this level.
The drainage of the male genitalia reflects the general rule that skin lymphatics follow superficial veins - in this case to the inguinal nodes - and deep lymphatics accompany the arteries.