Neck Lymph Nodes by A.Griguolo

Generality

The lymph nodes of the neck are the lymph nodes that occupy the anatomical region that joins the head to the bust.

Implicated in various medical conditions, these important lymph nodes can be divided into two large groups: the superficial lymph node group of the neck and the deep lymph node group of the neck. These groups are, in turn, distinguishable in various sub-categories, depending on their location on the package.

The lymph nodes of the neck cover the fundamental function of draining and filtering the lymph coming from the head, from the face and from the neck itself, to then discharge it in the right jugular lymphatic trunk and in the left jugular lymphatic trunk.

Short review of what the lymph nodes are

Lymph nodes are small ovoid organs of the lymphatic system, having a very important immune role ; in fact, they act as collection points for part of the B and T lymphocytes (cells of the immune system ), in order to intercept and destroy any germs, foreign substances and / or neoplastic cells circulating in the lymph (the lymph is the fluid similar to the plasma, which flows along the lymphatic vessels and receives the waste tissue present tissues).

Acting similarly to purifiers, lymph nodes are often referred to as biological filters.

What are Neck Lymph Nodes?

The lymph nodes of the neck are the lymph nodes located in the anatomical region that connects the head to the torso.

More precisely, they are the lymph nodes they occupy:

• The region behind the ears, limited superiorly from the occipital region of the skull and inferiorly from the seventh cervical vertebra ( posterior neck );
• The region below the ears and at the lateral margins of the mandible, limited inferiorly from the beginning of the bust ( lateral neck );
• The region between the base of the mandible (NB: the chin represents an anatomical region in itself) and the upper margin of the sternum and the clavicles ( anterior neck ).

Anatomy

Equal anatomical elements (ie present in the same way both on the right and on the left half of the human body), the lymph nodes of the neck are numerous, so much so that together with the lymph nodes of the head they slightly exceed the quota of 300 units.

According to the best-known classification of lymph nodes in the neck (a multi-level classification based essentially on localization), these important elements of the lymphatic system can be divided into two large groups - the so-called superficial neck lymph nodes and the so-called deep neck lymph nodes - groups which, in turn, they can be distinguished in various sub-categories.

It will be the task of the following sections of this chapter to describe the groups and subcategories, bringing together some details relating to numbers and exact arrangement.

Superficial neck lymph nodes or superficial lymph nodes of the neck

The superficial lymph nodes of the neck are the lymph nodes of the neck that reside just below the skin (this motivates the use of the adjective "superficial").

Their subdivision into sub-categories provides for the existence of:

• The lymph nodes of the occipital neck .

  Present in up to 3 units, these lymph nodes reside in the occipital region of the skull (back of the head), near the lateral margin of the trapezius muscle.

  The lymph nodes of the occipital neck collect the lymph coming from the occipital area of ​​the scalp.

• Lymph nodes of the retroauricular neck (or lymph nodes of the mastoid neck or posterior auricular neck lymph nodes ).

  Usually present in only 2 units, these lymph nodes locate behind the ear (which is why they are called retroauricular), exactly where it finds insertion, on the mastoid process, of one of the two ends of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

  The backauricular lymph nodes of the neck collect the lymph coming from: the back of the neck, the upper portion of the ear and the back of the external auditory canal.

• The submandibular lymph nodes of the neck .

  Present in a variable number between 3 and 6 units, the submandibular lymph nodes of the neck are located under the mandible, to be precise in the so-called submandibular triangle.

  The submandibular lymph nodes of the neck collect the lymph coming from: the cheeks, the lateral regions of the nose, the upper lip, the gums, the anterior portion of the tongue and the facial and sub-mental lymph nodes of the head.

• Anterior superficial cervical lymph nodes .

  Present in considerable quantities, these elements of the lymphatic system reside near the anterior jugular vein.

  The anterior superficial cervical lymph nodes collect the lymph coming from the superficial regions of the anterior portion of the neck.

• The latero-posterior superficial cervical lymph nodes .

  Also present in large quantities, the latero-posterior superficial cervical lymph nodes locate near the external jugular vein.

  The latero-posterior superficial cervical lymph nodes collect the lymph coming from the most superficial regions of the latero-posterior portion of the neck.

Did you know that ...

The superficial lymph nodes of the neck and the superficial head lymph nodes are arranged in such a way as to constitute a sort of ring.

Deep lymph nodes of the neck or deep lymph nodes of the neck

Deputies collecting the lymph coming from the superficial lymph nodes of the neck, the deep lymph nodes of the neck are the lymph nodes of the neck that take place in the deeper subcutaneous tissues of the anatomical region involved.

Forming a chain with vertical orientation, the deep lymph nodes of the neck flank the internal jugular vein, inside the so-called carotid sheath, and give rise to efferent vessels that converge into an important lymphatic structure known as the jugular lymphatic trunk .

The subdivision of the deep lymph nodes of the neck into sub-categories foresees the existence of:

• The anterior deep cervical lymph nodes .

  These lymph nodes of the neck are organized, in turn, in various groupings, which are:

• The group of infraioid lymph nodes;
• The group of thyroid lymph nodes;
• The group of pretracheal lymph nodes;
• The group of paratracheal lymph nodes;
• The group of retropharyngeal lymph nodes;
• Upper deep cervical lymph nodes .

  To this sub-category of lymph nodes of the neck belong:

• The jugulo-digastric lymph node;
• The jugulo-lateral lymph node;
• The jugulo-anterior lymph node.
• Lower deep cervical lymph nodes .

  This sub-category of neck lymph nodes includes:

• The jugulo-homoioid lymph node;
• The supraclavicular lymph node.

Did you know that ...

According to a classification of the lymph nodes of the neck decidedly more specific than that considered in this article and in common use, the lymph nodes of the neck would be only the cervical lymph nodes, namely: the anterior superficial cervical lymph nodes, the superficial cervical posterior lymph nodes and all the lymph nodes deep cervical.

Function

The lymph nodes of the neck have the vital function of draining and filtering the lymph coming from the head, from the face and from the neck itself, to then discharge it in the right jugular lymphatic trunk and in the left jugular lymphatic trunk (which, in turn, open, respectively, at the point of confluence between the internal jugular vein and the subclavian vein, and in the so-called thoracic duct.

More specifically, the drainage work carried out by the lymph nodes of the neck sees the superficial lymph nodes of the neck as the first protagonists

• These receive the lymph from the back of the head, from the ears, from the gums, from the sides of the nose, from the anterior portion of the tongue, from the upper lip, from the facial lymph nodes, from the sub-mental lymph nodes and from the anterior, lateral and posterior neck.

and as second protagonists the deep lymph nodes of the neck.

• These collect the sap received, previously, from the superficial lymph nodes of the neck and discharge it into the jugular lymphatic trunks.

diseases

The lymph nodes of the neck are elements of considerable clinical relevance, as they are the subject of an enlargement process (called lymphadenopathy of the neck or cervical lymphadenopathy ) due to conditions of infectious origin, autoimmune diseases, traumas on the neck and particular tumors.

Conditions of infectious origin

The infections that are produced are typically associated with the presence of swollen lymph nodes on the neck:

• Pharyngitis (inflammation of the pharynx or sore throat), tonsillitis (inflammation of the palatine tonsils) and laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx);
• Otitis (inflammation of the ear);

• Gingivitis (inflammation of the gum), dental abscesses (unusual accumulation of bacteria, white blood cells, plasma and pus, around the tissues surrounding a tooth) and pericoronitis (acute inflammation of the gum that surrounds a tooth during eruption);
• Very common viral diseases, such as varicella, influenza, mononucleosis and rubella ;
• The so-called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, ie AIDS .

In the aforementioned circumstances, the process of enlargement of the lymph nodes of the neck is acute, that is, it is established quickly.

Autoimmune diseases

Among the autoimmune diseases related to the swollen lymph nodes of the neck, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus deserve a mention.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a suffering of the mobile joints, which specifically concerns the so-called joint capsule. Systemic lupus erythematosus, on the other hand, is a multi-systemic disease, which means that it affects more organs and tissues of the human body.

In the presence of autoimmune diseases, the enlargement of the lymph nodes of the neck occurs gradually, ie slowly.

Did you know that ...

Autoimmune diseases are particular clinical conditions, whose symptoms and signs are due to a malfunction of the immune system; the immune cells, in fact, rather than merely performing their normal action against external threats (viruses, bacteria, etc.), are aggressive towards the organism that they should protect, jeopardizing the good health of organs and tissues.

traumas

The traumatic events associated with an enlargement of the lymph nodes of the neck are, above all, the punctures or bites of insects based on the neck, which gives rise to an infection and a consequent inflammatory response with recall of immune cells at the lymph node level.

The process of enlargement of the lymph nodes of the neck following traumatic events to the detriment of the neck is generally acute (therefore fast in presenting itself).

tumors

Among the cancers responsible for an enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck are: non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and tumors of the mouth-throat compartment (cancer of the mouth, throat cancer, tongue cancer, etc.).

As a rule, the aforementioned tumors coincide with a slow and gradual enlargement process of the lymph nodes of the neck.