lateral aortic node, a lumbar lymph node in any of three clusters of nodes serving the pelvis and abdomen. The afferent vessels from both sides drain various structures such as the testes, ovaries, kidneys, and lateral abdominal muscles. Most of the efferent vessels from the lateral aortic nodes converge to form the right and left lumbar trunks, which join the cisterna chyli. Compare preaortic node, retroaortic node.
