Mesenteric lymph node (MLN)

Mesenteric lymph nodes are clusters of small, bean-shaped immune organs located within the mesentery—the fold of tissue that attaches the intestines to the abdominal wall. They play a critical role in filtering lymphatic fluid draining from the gastrointestinal tract, trapping pathogens, cancer cells, and foreign particles. These nodes are essential for immune surveillance and maintaining gut immune homeostasis by inducing tolerance to dietary antigens and preventing commensal bacteria from entering systemic circulation. Dysfunction or enlargement can be associated with infections (such as viral gastroenteritis), inflammatory diseases, or malignancy. Mesenteric lymph nodes are not molecular targets but rather anatomical structures central to gut immunity.

Other names

mesenteric glandmLNmesenteric lymph glands