CERVICAL LYMPH NODES

DEPT OF ANATOMY
ARMED FORCES MEDICAL COLLEGE
PUNE- 411040
CERVICAL LYMPH NODES

• Arranged into deep &

superficial chains.
• Deep jugular chain
extends from base of skull to
clavicle. Divided into
superior, middle & inferior
groups of lymph nodes.
• Superficial nodes drain to
deep nodes. These are
– submental
– Submandibular
– Facial/buccal
– Preauricular
– Postauricular
– Occipital
– Superficial cervical
– Ant cervical
CERVICAL LYMPH NODES
Occipital nodes

Retropharyngeal Outer circle

nodes
Nasopharyngeal tonsil
Tubal tonsil
Innermost circle Palatine tonsil

Mastoid nodes
IJV
Deep cervical
nodes Parotid nodes

Paratracheal
Lingual tonsil nodes
Pretracheal nodes

Inner circle
Submandibular
node

Submental nodes
SUPERFICIAL CERVICAL NODES
• Submental nodes- chin, middle of lower lip,
tip of tongue & anterior mouth. Drain into
submandibular nodes.
• Submandibular nodes- upper lip, lateral
lower lip, lower nasal cavity, anterior mouth &
skin of cheek. Drain into superior deep
jugular nodes.
• Superficial cervical nodes (along EJV)
receive drainage from cutaneous lymphatics
of face, esp from around parotid gland,
behind the ear, parotid & occipital nodes.
Drain into superior deep jugular nodes.
• Nodes in posterior triangle lie along spinal
accessory nerve. Drain parietal & occipital
regions of scalp. Upper nodes drain to
superior deep jugular nodes & lower nodes
drain into supraclavicular nodes.
• Anterior scalene (Virchow's) nodes
receive drainage from thoracic duct- located
at junction of thoracic duct & left subclavian
vein. Usually site of metastases from lower
part of body (e.g. stomach).
• Supraclavicular nodes receive drainage
from spinal accessory nodes & from
infraclavicular sources.
SUPERFICIAL CERVICAL NODES

Occipital nodes

Preauricular nodes Postauricular

nodes

Superf cervical nodes

Submental nodes Submandibular nodes

 SUPERFICIAL CERVICAL NODES
Preauricular nodes

Parotid group

Occipital nodes
Facial (buccal)
Post. auricular nodes group

Superf cervical group Submandibular nodes

Submental nodes

Ant. cervical group

 LYMPHATICS FROM FACE

Preauricular
nodes

Preauricular
nodes

Submandibular
nodes
Submental nodes
Submental
nodes Submandibular
nodes
DEEP CERVICAL NODES
Superior deep jugular nodes
• Primary drainage- soft palate, tonsils,
palatoglossal & palatopharyngeal arches,
posterior tongue, base of tongue,
pyriform sinus & larynx above vocal
folds.
• Also from superficial nodes in upper head
& neck (retropharyngeal, spinal
accessory, parotid, superficial cervical &
submandibular nodes).
Middle deep jugular nodes
• Primary drainage- larynx above vocal
folds, lower pyriform sinus & posterior
cricoid.
• Receive secondary drainage from deep
jugular nodes above them & lower
retropharyngeal nodes.
Inferior deep jugular nodes
• Primary drainage- thyroid, trachea &
cervical esophagus.
• Receive secondary drainage from deep
jugular nodes above them & paratracheal
nodes.
 CERVICAL LYMPH NODES
Post auricular nodes
Preauricular nodes
Occipital nodes Tonsil Ant & Post tongue

Submental nodes

JD nodes Submandibular nodes

Common facial vein
Superf cervical nodes

JO nodes Ant cervical nodes

Supraclavicular
Jugular lymph trunk
nodes

Subclavian lymph trunk

DEEP CERVICAL NODES

Retropharyngeal & paratracheal

nodes
• Lie posteriorly around midline viscera
• Receive from these viscera & from
deep structures in midline of head-
nasopharynx, posterior nasal cavity,
PNS, posterior oropharynx.
• Drain towards deep jugular chain
 DEEP CERVICAL NODES

Facial vein Masseter DIGASTRIC (PB)

JD NODES

DIGASTRIC (AB)

IJV
OH (Sup belly)

JO NODES
Intermediate tendon OH (Inf belly)

SUPRACLAVICULAR NODES