Lymph node location
Lymph Node Location in the Body: A total of 500 to 600 lymph nodes remain distributed throughout the body, the most well known lymph node locations being the underarms, groin, neck, chest, and abdomen. These nodes form the lymphatic system collectively, the lymphatic system being an interconnected system of spaces and vessels between body tissues and organs by which lymph circulates throughout the body. The components of this system are small clusters of cells that remain surrounded by a capsule and have ducts going both in and out of them. These are known as the lymph nodes or glands. Gland is however an incorrect terminology, in the sense that the nodes do not fulfill the glandular criteria i.e. they do not secrete anything but act as filters, an internal honeycomb structure of lymphocyte-filled connective tissue being responsible for its action. The aforementioned structures collect and destroy bacteria and viruses that flow freely within the blood; this is when the lymphocytes multiply rapidly and causes the lymph nodes to swell.
The lymph nodes are named according to their location in the body; for the nodes in the neck region, the term is Cervical, while Axillary Nodes are the ones located in the armpits. Nodes along the collarbone are termed as Supraclavicular; those along the upper body but located behind the sternum and between the pleural or lung sacs are the Mediastinal ones; by Mesentery, we understand the nodes of the abdominal region, whereas Inguinal and Femoral denote the nodes of the groin and the upper inner thigh respectively.
Lymph Node Location in the neck: A catchall term for the lymph nodes located in the neck and head regions is Deep Lymphatics that are divided into two separate categories:
· The circular chain of nodes around the base of the skull, comprising the Occipital, Retro-Auricular, Superficial Parotid, Deep Parotid, Retropharyngeal, Submandibular and Submental lymph nodes.
· The deep and superficial cervical chains comprising of the Jugulodigastric, Jugulo-Omohyoid, Paratracheal and Pretracheal nodes.
A detailed reading is available at http://137.222.110.150/calnet/DeepNeck/page3.htm
Lymph Node Location: An Anatomical Diagram of Cervical lymph nodes: Composed of lymphoid tissue, the 300 lymph nodes in the neck remain embedded within the soft tissue, totally or partially surrounded by fat. Each one of these nodes are encapsulated by a fibrous tissue; divided into cortical and medullary regions, the cortex is formed by densely packed lymphocytes (spherical lymphoid follicles) while the medulla comprises medullary trabeculae, medullary cords and medullary sinuses. The inner surface of the capsule comprises structures called trabeculae that extend towards the medullary region of the node, forming a structure that imparts the lymph node its shape. Medullary trabeculae, as it is called, guide the blood vessels and the nerves to multiple regions of the lymph node. The medullary sinuses are what that stores the lymph before it drains to the efferent lymphatic vessel, whereas the paracortex (an area between the cortex and the medulla) remain responsible for making the lymphocytes return to the lymphatic system from the blood.
A detailed reading is available at http://www.droid.cuhk.edu.hk/web/specials/lymph_nodes/lymph_nodes.htm
Lymph Node Infection Treatment: There is no general lymph node infection treatment; it depends upon the type of infection that has set in. However, in case of cancer, a proper biopsy can lead to the appropriate treatment required to bring back the swollen lymph nodes to their actual form.
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