Occipital lymph nodes

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Occipital lymph nodes
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Superficial lymph glands and lymphatic vessels of head and neck. (Occipital glands labeled at center left.)
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Lymph nodes at surface:
  • 1. Occipital (retroauricular)
  • 2. Mastoid
  • 3. Superficial parotid
  • 4. Deep parotid
  • 5. Preauricular
  • 6. Infra-auricular
  • 7. Intraglandular parotid

Facial lymph nodes:

  • 8. Buccinator
  • 9. Nasolabial
  • 10. Mandibular
  • 11. Anterior cervical (superficial jugular)
  • 12. Superficial cervical (external jugular)
Details
System Lymphatic system
Drains from Scalp, occiput
Identifiers
Latin nodi lymphoidei occipitales
FMA 61214
Anatomical terminology

The occipital lymph nodes are a group of 1-3 superficial lymph nodes of the head situated in the occipital region that drain part of the scalp of the occiput. [1]

Contents

They are situated at the margin of the trapezius and resting on the insertion of the semispinalis capitis .[ citation needed ]

Territory

Afferents

Afferents of occipital lymph nodes contribute to the drainage of the occipital region of the scalp (this region is also drained by a lymphatic vessel which passes along the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle to drain directly into the inferior deep cervical lymph nodes). [2]

Efferents

Their efferents in turn drain into the superior deep cervical glands. [1] [2]

Clinical examination

During physical examination, these nodes are examined by having the patient bend their head forward and bilaterally palpating the base of the side of the head. [1]

Additional images

Etymology

The word occipital comes from the Latin : occiput ("the back of the head").

References

  1. 1 2 3 Fehrenbach, Margaret J.; Herring, Susan W. (2017). Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck (5th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier. p. 231. ISBN   978-0-323-39634-9.
  2. 1 2 Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York: Elsevier. p. 630. ISBN   978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC   1201341621.