The lymph vessels from different parts of the gastrointestinal tract drain to specific lymph nodes before eventually reaching one of two central lymph node groups - the celiac nodes or superior mesenteric nodes. The esophagus, stomach, duodenum and parts of the colon drain to the celiac nodes, while the jejunum, ileum, cecum, appendix, parts of the colon and descending colon drain to the superior mesenteric nodes.

1. LYMPHATIC
DRAINAGE OF GIT

2. OESOPHAGUS
• The lymph vessels follow the
arteries into the left gastric
nodes.

3. STOMACH
• The lymph vessels follow
the arteries into the left
and right gastric nodes, the
left and right
gastroepiploic nodes, and
the short gastric nodes. All
lymph from the stomach
eventually passes to the
celiac nodes located
around the root of the
celiac artery on the
posterior abdominal wall.

4. DUODENUM
• The lymph vessels follow the
arteries. The upper duodenum drains
upward via pancreaticoduodenal
nodes to the gastroduodenal nodes
and then to the celiac nodes. The
lower duodenum drains downward
via pancreaticoduodenal nodes to
the superior mesenteric nodes
around the origin of the superior
mesenteric artery.

5. JEJUNUM AND
ILEUM
• The lymph vessels pass through
many intermediate mesenteric nodes
and finally reach the superior
mesenteric nodes, which are situated
around the origin of the superior
mesenteric artery.

6. CECUM and
APPENDIX
• Cecum: The lymph vessels
pass through several
mesenteric nodes and finally
reach the superior
mesenteric nodes.
• Appendix: The lymph vessels
drain into one or two nodes
lying in the mesoappendix
and then eventually into the
superior mesenteric nodes.

7. COLON
• Ascending: The lymph vessels drain
into lymph nodes lying along the
course of the colic blood vessels and
ultimately reach the superior
mesenteric nodes.
• Transverse: The proximal two thirds
drain into the colic nodes and then
into the superior mesenteric nodes.
The distal third drains into the colic
nodes and then into the inferior
mesenteric nodes.

8. DESCENDING COLON
• Descending: Lymph drains into
the colic lymph nodes and the
inferior mesenteric nodes around
the origin of the inferior
mesenteric artery.