Facial lymph nodes

Facial lymph nodes
The lymphatics of the face.
Facial lymph nodes labelled 8 - 12
Details
System	Lymphatic system
Identifiers
Latin	nodi lymphoidei faciales
FMA	233946
Anatomical terminology [ edit on Wikidata]

The facial lymph nodes are a group of up to 12 superficial lymph nodes of the head situated along the length of the facial vein. Facial lymph nodes are variable in number, usually small. They are further divided into 4 groups: ^[1]

• Malar (also infraorbital ^[1] or maxillary ^{[2] [ obsolete source ]}) lymph nodes - situated in the infraorbital region ^[1] (from the groove between the nose and cheek anteriorly, to the zygomatic arch posteriorly ^{[2] [ obsolete source ]}).
• Nasolabial lymph nodes - situated along the nasolabial sulcus. ^[1]
• Buccal lymph nodes - situated immediately superficial to the bucinator muscle, ^[1] opposite the angle of the mouth. They are one or more in number. ^{[2] [ obsolete source ]}
• Mandibular lymph nodes - situated within tissues superior to the surface of the mandible and anterior to the masseter muscle, ^[1] and placed alongside and in contact with external maxillary artery and anterior facial vein. ^{[2] [ obsolete source ]}

Territory

Each subgroup is responsible for drainage of adjacent skin and mucosae. ^[1] Their afferent vessels drain the eyelids, the conjunctiva, and the skin and mucous membrane of the nose and cheek. ^{[2] [ obsolete source ]}

Superoinferiorly, each node drains into the one immediately inferior to it, with the last draining into submandibular lymph nodes (which in turn drain to the deep cervical lymph nodes). ^[1]

Clinical examination

During physical examination, these nodes are palpated bilaterally from the infraorbital region to the labial commisure and then to the mandible. ^[1]

When undergoing lymphadenopathy, these nodes are described as feeling like a "firm pea". Lymphadenopathy of these nodes may be result from dental infections. ^[1]

References

1. Fehrenbach, Margaret J.; Herring, Susan W. (2017). Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck (5th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier. p. 232. ISBN   978-0-323-39634-9.
2. Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 694.