Lymph Nodes and Collectors of Head and Neck

The lymph nodes in the head and neck drain excess interstitial fluid from the head and neck and drain them into the azygos vein through the jugular lymph trunk

Lymph Nodes of the Head and Neck

  • Occipital
  • Para-tracheal
  • Pre-auricular
  • Retro-auricular
  • Retro-pharyngeal
  • Sub-mandibular
  • Sub-mental
  • Superficial chain

Circular Nodal Chain

  • Occipital - posterior scalp
  • Pre-auricular - parotid gland and posterior orbit
  • Retro-auricular - posterior scalp
  • Sub-mandibular - cheek, nose and sub-mandibular gland
  • Sub-mental - anterior tongue and floor of mouth

Deep Cervical Chain

  • Jugulo-digastric - palatine tonsil
  • Jugulo-omohyoid - palate
  • Para-tracheal - larynx and trachea
  • Retro-pharyngeal - pharynx

Superficial Cervical Chain

  • Drains the skin of the neck

Bibliography

SNELL,. Richard S. 8th Edition edition. 2004. ISBN 978-0-7817-6404-9.