HEAD & NECK LYMPHATICS
- The componants of this system include:
- → Superficial nodes around the head.
- → Superficial cervical nodes along the external jugular vein.
- →Deep cervical nodes forming chain along the internal jugular vein.
- Small vessels + lymph nodes (s) along veins
- ↓ Major (L.N) (along with major veins )
- ↓ Lymphatic trunks
- ↓ Lymph. ducts
- ↓ Subclavian v.
- Superficial lymphatic vessels drain into the superficial nodes ⟶ Deep cervical node
- ↳ superficial cervical nodes ↗ Deep cervical node
Superficial lymph nodes: (5)
- occipital nodes near the attachment of the trapezius muscle to the skull and associated with the occipital artery—lymphatic drainage is from the posterior scalp and neck;
- mastoid nodes (retro-auricular/posterior auricular nodes) posterior to the ear near the attachment of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and associated with the posterior auricular artery—lymphatic drainage is from the posterolateral half of the scalp;
- pre-auricular and parotid nodes anterior to the ear and associated with the superficial temporal and transverse facial arteries—lymphatic drainage is from the anterior surface of the auricle, the anterolateral scalp, the upper half of the face, the eyelids, and the cheeks;
- submandibular nodes inferior to the body of the mandible and associated with the facial artery—lymphatic drainage is from structures along the path of the facial artery as high as the forehead, as well as the gingivae, the teeth, and the tongue;
- submental nodes inferior and posterior to the chin—lymphatic drainage is from the center part of the lower lip, the chin, the floor of the mouth, the tip of the tongue, and the lower incisor teeth.
Lymphatic flow from these superficial lymph nodes passes in several directions:
- Drainage from the occipital and mastoid nodes passes to the superficial cervical nodes along the external jugular vein.
- Drainage from the pre-auricular and parotid nodes, the submandibular nodes, and the submental nodes passes to the deep cervical nodes.