Lymphatic system is a part of vascular system. It carries out two main functions:
drainage and defense. There are lymphatic capillaries, the ways of lymph transport
and lymph nodes.
LYMPHATIC VESSELS AND REGIONAL LYMPH NODES OF
BODY REGIONS
Lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes of head and neck
Lymphatic vessels of organs of head go to lymph nodes lying on the border
between head and neck. There are 8 groups of lymph nodes of head.
Name of group Description
Occipital nodes (1-6) They lie behind the site of origin of
sternocleidomastoid along the way of occipital
vessels. They take lymphatic vessels from occipital
region. They lie on mastoid process. They accept
the lymphatic vessels from parietal region and
external ear.
Mastoid nodes (1-4) They lie in mastoid process. They collect lymph of
parietal region and external ear.
Parotid nodes (5-14) They are subdivided into superficial and deep ones.
Superficial nodes lie on capsule of parotid gland,
the deep ones – beneath this capsule. They collect
vessels of parietal, frontal regions external ear,
parotid gland.
Retropharyngeal nodes (1-3) They lie behind pharynx on the fifth fascia of neck.
They collect lymph of pharynx, middle ear, nasal
cavity and paranasal sinuses, palate.
Mandibular nodes (1-3) Changeable. They lie on external surface of
mandible body close to facial vessels. They accept
lymph from facial regions.
Facial nodes Changeable. They lie in subcutaneous fatty tissue of
cheek. They accept lymph from facial regions.
Submandibular nodes (6-8) They lie within submandibular triangle. They
accept lymph from from facial regions and tongue
body.
Submental nodes (1-8) They lie on inferior surface of geniohyoid and
accept lymph from tissues of facial regions, oral
diaphragm and apex of tongue.
Lymph nodes of neck are divided into superficial and deep.
, Superficial nodes (1-5) They are located on the second fascia along
external jugular vein, on trapezoid muscle. They
collect superficial vessels of neck. Efferent vessels
of these nodes go to deep lateral cervical lymph
nodes.
Deep cervical lymph nodes (32-83) are divided into anterior and lateral groups.
Deep anterior cervical lymph They are located forward relatively to larynx,
nodes trachea, close to thyroid gland. They accept
(4-17) lymphatic vessels of these organs. Efferent
lymphatic vessels of these nodes go to deep lateral
cervical nodes.
Deep lateral cervical lymph They are located along internal jugular vein. Some
nodes nodes are called in this group: jugulodigastric and
(7-60) jugulo-omohyoid. These nodes are regional for
tongue. Efferent vessels of nodes of head and deep
anterior cervical nodes are also interrupted in deep
lateral cervical lymph nodes. The efferent vessels of
deep lateral cervical nodes form jugular trunk on
each side of neck.
Jugular trunks (right and left) are the collectors of the lymph of head and neck.
Right jugular trunk enters right lymphatic duct, left jugular trunk enters thoracic
duct.
Regional lymph nodes of tongue: jugulodigastric, jugulo-omohyoid, submandibular
and submental. The lymph flows from the root of the tongue to jugulodigastric and
jugulo-omohyoid nodes, from the body – to the same nodes and submandibular
ones also, from the apex – to jugulo-omohyoid, submandibular and submental
nodes.
Lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes of upper limb
Lymphatic vessels are divided into superficial and deep.
Superficial lymphatic vessels form 3 groups: lateral, medial and middle.
Lateral superficial lymphatic vessels drain skin, subcutaneus fatty tissue and
superficial fascia of I-III digits, lateral edge of hand, forearm and arm. They go
along cephalic vein and enter axillary lymph nodes.
Medial superficial lymphatic vessels drain skin, subcutaneus fatty tissue and
superficial fascia of IV-V digits, medial edge of hand, forearm and arm.They go
along basilic vein and enter superficial cubital lymph nodes.
Middle superficial lymphatic vessels drain skin, subcutaneus fatty tissue and
superficial fascia of wrist and forearm. They accompany median antebrachial vein
till elbow joint where the part of them join the lateral group, the other part – the
medial group of superficial lymphatic vessels.
drainage and defense. There are lymphatic capillaries, the ways of lymph transport
and lymph nodes.
LYMPHATIC VESSELS AND REGIONAL LYMPH NODES OF
BODY REGIONS
Lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes of head and neck
Lymphatic vessels of organs of head go to lymph nodes lying on the border
between head and neck. There are 8 groups of lymph nodes of head.
Name of group Description
Occipital nodes (1-6) They lie behind the site of origin of
sternocleidomastoid along the way of occipital
vessels. They take lymphatic vessels from occipital
region. They lie on mastoid process. They accept
the lymphatic vessels from parietal region and
external ear.
Mastoid nodes (1-4) They lie in mastoid process. They collect lymph of
parietal region and external ear.
Parotid nodes (5-14) They are subdivided into superficial and deep ones.
Superficial nodes lie on capsule of parotid gland,
the deep ones – beneath this capsule. They collect
vessels of parietal, frontal regions external ear,
parotid gland.
Retropharyngeal nodes (1-3) They lie behind pharynx on the fifth fascia of neck.
They collect lymph of pharynx, middle ear, nasal
cavity and paranasal sinuses, palate.
Mandibular nodes (1-3) Changeable. They lie on external surface of
mandible body close to facial vessels. They accept
lymph from facial regions.
Facial nodes Changeable. They lie in subcutaneous fatty tissue of
cheek. They accept lymph from facial regions.
Submandibular nodes (6-8) They lie within submandibular triangle. They
accept lymph from from facial regions and tongue
body.
Submental nodes (1-8) They lie on inferior surface of geniohyoid and
accept lymph from tissues of facial regions, oral
diaphragm and apex of tongue.
Lymph nodes of neck are divided into superficial and deep.
, Superficial nodes (1-5) They are located on the second fascia along
external jugular vein, on trapezoid muscle. They
collect superficial vessels of neck. Efferent vessels
of these nodes go to deep lateral cervical lymph
nodes.
Deep cervical lymph nodes (32-83) are divided into anterior and lateral groups.
Deep anterior cervical lymph They are located forward relatively to larynx,
nodes trachea, close to thyroid gland. They accept
(4-17) lymphatic vessels of these organs. Efferent
lymphatic vessels of these nodes go to deep lateral
cervical nodes.
Deep lateral cervical lymph They are located along internal jugular vein. Some
nodes nodes are called in this group: jugulodigastric and
(7-60) jugulo-omohyoid. These nodes are regional for
tongue. Efferent vessels of nodes of head and deep
anterior cervical nodes are also interrupted in deep
lateral cervical lymph nodes. The efferent vessels of
deep lateral cervical nodes form jugular trunk on
each side of neck.
Jugular trunks (right and left) are the collectors of the lymph of head and neck.
Right jugular trunk enters right lymphatic duct, left jugular trunk enters thoracic
duct.
Regional lymph nodes of tongue: jugulodigastric, jugulo-omohyoid, submandibular
and submental. The lymph flows from the root of the tongue to jugulodigastric and
jugulo-omohyoid nodes, from the body – to the same nodes and submandibular
ones also, from the apex – to jugulo-omohyoid, submandibular and submental
nodes.
Lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes of upper limb
Lymphatic vessels are divided into superficial and deep.
Superficial lymphatic vessels form 3 groups: lateral, medial and middle.
Lateral superficial lymphatic vessels drain skin, subcutaneus fatty tissue and
superficial fascia of I-III digits, lateral edge of hand, forearm and arm. They go
along cephalic vein and enter axillary lymph nodes.
Medial superficial lymphatic vessels drain skin, subcutaneus fatty tissue and
superficial fascia of IV-V digits, medial edge of hand, forearm and arm.They go
along basilic vein and enter superficial cubital lymph nodes.
Middle superficial lymphatic vessels drain skin, subcutaneus fatty tissue and
superficial fascia of wrist and forearm. They accompany median antebrachial vein
till elbow joint where the part of them join the lateral group, the other part – the
medial group of superficial lymphatic vessels.
