Lymph nodes of the Neck

Contents

Imaging-Based Classification

1a – Submental
between anterior belly of digastric
Drains: tip of tongue, floor of mouth, lower lip

1b – Submandibular
Region: anterior and posterior belly of diagastric and inferior border of mandible

below the mylohyoid muscle, above the hyoid bone, posterior and lateral to the medial edge
of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle,
and anterior to a transverse line drawn on
each axial image tangent to the posterior surface of the submandibular gland on each side
of the neck
drains oral cavity, corner of eye, nasal cavity

2 – Upper jugular
between horizontal plane of hyoid bone, posterior border of sternocleoidmastoid, posterior digastric muscle
the accessory spinal nerve divides 2a from 2b
drains pre-auricular, tonsils, nasopharynx, tongue

3 – Middle jugular
between horizontal plane of hyoid bone, cricoid, midline, posterior border of SCM
drains submandibular and upper jugular groups, superior thyroid, pharynx

4 – Lower jugular
between cricoid, posterior border of SCM, clavicle
drains submental, tongue

5a/5b – Posterior triangle
posterior border of SCM, anterior border of trapezius, superior border of clavicle
horizontal plane of cricoid divides 5a and 5b
drains preauricular, occipital and superficial neck

6 – Anterior triangle
between hyoid and manubrium, midline
drains superfical neck, thyroid, larynx, oseophagus

Updated on 27 March 2021

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