Quick Facts
Location: On the surface of the parotid gland, with close relations to the surrounding fascia.
Drainage: Other local lymph nodes, parotid gland, outer ear, upper lip, and gingiva.
Direction of Flow: Internal jugular nodes > supraclavicular nodes > jugular trunk > thoracic duct (left) or right lymphatic duct.
Related parts of the anatomy
Description
The infraauricular nodes are between one and three nodes located under the fascia surrounding the parotid gland (subfascial). They are most often found surrounding the inferior pole of the gland, anterior to the ear lobe.
Many of the lymph nodes that are located in close proximity to the infraauricular node will drain into it; thus this node acts as a secondary filter for much of the lymphatic fluid that flows from the head (Földi et al., 2012).
From here, lymph drains into the internal jugular nodes, which are part of the deep cervical collection of nodes, and from here into the supraclavicular nodes before entering the jugular trunk and continuing on to the thoracic duct (left) or right lymphatic duct.
List of Clinical Correlates
—Infection or malignancy in the superficial facial tissue
References
Földi, M., Földi, E., Strößenreuther, R. and Kubik, S. (2012) Földi's Textbook of Lymphology: for Physicians and Lymphedema Therapists. Elsevier Health Sciences.
