5-404.e:

All lymph nodes in the space between the thin membrane of your abdominal cavity and your back have been removed.

Fluid forms in tissue throughout the body every day. This tissue fluid is the lymph. The lymph is carried around the body by lymph vessels. The lymph vessels run around the entire body and are connected to blood vessels. At some points, there are lymph nodes along the lymph vessels. Pathogens are rendered harmless in the lymph nodes, for example. Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures. They are part of the body’s defense system.

The abdominal organs are located in the abdominal cavity. The inside of the abdominal cavity is covered by a thin membrane. This thin membrane also surrounds all the organs in the abdomen. The organs can move against each other thanks to this thin membrane. Between the thin membrane of the abdominal wall and the back there is a space that contains a lot of connective tissue and fat. The kidneys, pancreas, part of the large intestine and aorta for instance are located in this space.

You have had your lymph nodes surgically removed. To do this, your skin was cut open. A scope with a camera was advanced through this incision. The camera sent pictures of the inside of your body to a screen. Instruments such as forceps and scissors can be inserted through other small incisions.