Anatomic.us > Lymphatic System

Cervical Lymph Nodes

Lymph nodes are small, bean shaped clusters of immune cells that function as part of the body’s immune system (defense system of body).These lymph nodes are situated throughout the body and are connected to each other by vessels called lymphatic vessels, through which a clear fluid, called lymph flows that brings debris and harmful agents to lymph nodes for their clearance, all of them makes up the lymphatic system. The lymph nodes of the neck are called cervical lymph nodes.

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Cervical Lymph Nodes


CLASSIFICATION, LOCATION, AND AREAS DRAİNED BY CERVICAL LYMPH NODES

The cervical lymph nodes are divided into deep cervical lymph nodes (those present along the internal jugular vein) and peripheral nodes (grouped and named according to their position near the respective structure of the throat).

 

The deep cervical lymph nodes form a pair of vertical chain and are situated along the entire length of the internal jugular vein, on each side of the neck. For convenience of description, these are often grouped as:

  • Anterosuperior (most important  group of nodes is  jugulodigastric nodes , lying below the digastric muscle and are main nodes draining the tonsil).

  • Anterioinferior, posteriosuperior and posterioinferior groups (most important  group of nodes is jugulo-omohyoid nodes, lying above medial tendon of omohyoid and are main lymph nodes of the tongue).

The peripheral nodes are arranged in two circles i.e. superficial and deep.

The superficial circle of cervical lymph nodes consists of following groups:

  • Submental (drain lymph from tip of tongue and anterior floor of mouth).

  • Submandibular (drain lymph from lateral surface of tongue, lower gum, teeth and central area of forehead).

  • Buccal and mandibular nodes (drain lymph from cheek and lower eyelid).

  • Preauricular (drain parotid gland, temporal region and middle ear).

  • Mastoid (drain part of scalp, auricle and external acoustic meatus).

  • Occipital (drain occipital region of scalp).

  • Anterior cervical (drain skin of anterior part of neck).

  • Superficial cervical (drain auricle, external acoustic meatus and skin over parotid gland and angle of jaw)

The deep circle of cervical lymph nodes consists of following groups:

  • Prelaryngeal and pre tracheal nodes (drain larynx, trachea and isthmus of the thyroid).

  • Paratracheal nodes (drain esophagus, trachea and larynx).

  • Retropharyngeal nodes (drain pharynx, auditory tube, soft palate, some part of hard palate and the nose).

  • Waldeyer’s ring (consisting of inguinal, palatine, tubal and nasopharyngeal tonsils which form a ring like structure present in the pharynx).

 

COURSE OF DRAINAGE OF THE CERVICAL LYMPH NODES

Lymph from the head and neck drains ultimately into the deep cervical lymph nodes (either directly or through peripheral nodes). The efferent of the deep cervical lymph nodes join to form the jugular lymph trunk, one on each side. The left jugular trunk opens into the thoracic duct. The right jugular trunk opens either into right lymphatic duct or directly into an angle between the junction of internal jugular and subclavian veins.

 

SOME CLINICAL ASPECTS

The lymph nodes can be enlarged which can be due to injury, inflammation, infection, AIDS or tumor etc. Particular lymph nodes enlargement shows that there is some problem in their area of drainage.



CLASSIFICATION, LOCATION, AND AREAS DRAİNED BY CERVICAL LYMPH NODES

The cervical lymph nodes are divided into deep cervical lymph nodes (those present along the internal jugular vein) and peripheral nodes (grouped and named according to their position near the respective structure of the throat).

 

The deep cervical lymph nodes form a pair of vertical chain and are situated along the entire length of the internal jugular vein, on each side of the neck. For convenience of description, these are often grouped as:

  • Anterosuperior (most important  group of nodes is  jugulodigastric nodes , lying below the digastric muscle and are main nodes draining the tonsil).

  • Anterioinferior, posteriosuperior and posterioinferior groups (most important  group of nodes is jugulo-omohyoid nodes, lying above medial tendon of omohyoid and are main lymph nodes of the tongue).

The peripheral nodes are arranged in two circles i.e. superficial and deep.

The superficial circle of cervical lymph nodes consists of following groups:

  • Submental (drain lymph from tip of tongue and anterior floor of mouth).

  • Submandibular (drain lymph from lateral surface of tongue, lower gum, teeth and central area of forehead).

  • Buccal and mandibular nodes (drain lymph from cheek and lower eyelid).

  • Preauricular (drain parotid gland, temporal region and middle ear).

  • Mastoid (drain part of scalp, auricle and external acoustic meatus).

  • Occipital (drain occipital region of scalp).

  • Anterior cervical (drain skin of anterior part of neck).

  • Superficial cervical (drain auricle, external acoustic meatus and skin over parotid gland and angle of jaw)

The deep circle of cervical lymph nodes consists of following groups:

  • Prelaryngeal and pre tracheal nodes (drain larynx, trachea and isthmus of the thyroid).

  • Paratracheal nodes (drain esophagus, trachea and larynx).

  • Retropharyngeal nodes (drain pharynx, auditory tube, soft palate, some part of hard palate and the nose).

  • Waldeyer’s ring (consisting of inguinal, palatine, tubal and nasopharyngeal tonsils which form a ring like structure present in the pharynx).

 

COURSE OF DRAINAGE OF THE CERVICAL LYMPH NODES

Lymph from the head and neck drains ultimately into the deep cervical lymph nodes (either directly or through peripheral nodes). The efferent of the deep cervical lymph nodes join to form the jugular lymph trunk, one on each side. The left jugular trunk opens into the thoracic duct. The right jugular trunk opens either into right lymphatic duct or directly into an angle between the junction of internal jugular and subclavian veins.

 

SOME CLINICAL ASPECTS

The lymph nodes can be enlarged which can be due to injury, inflammation, infection, AIDS or tumor etc. Particular lymph nodes enlargement shows that there is some problem in their area of drainage.

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