Description
Interstitial fluid, plasma proteins, and cellular waste exist within tissues and require removal in order to maintain tissue homeostasis. These products are removed from the tissue as lymphatic fluid. Lymphatic fluid from the head and neck is drained from the tissue through a network of vessels and intervening nodes.
This network can be divided by location and further categorized into superficial and deep structures.
There are seven groups of nodes in the head, including the: occipital, mastoid, parotid, submandibular, submental, facial, and lingual lymph nodes. The neck contains the anterior cervical, lateral cervical, and retropharyngeal lymph nodes. Most of these groups are further divided into superficial and deep structures.
Lymphatic fluid from each side of the head drains into the lateral cervical nodes, with the exception of the occipital and mastoid nodes, which drain into the accessory chain, and the submental nodes, which drain ipsi- and contra-laterally.
Related parts of the anatomy
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Lymph Node
Lymph nodes are a part of the lymphatic system, which also includes lymphatic vessels that collect interstitial fluid or lymph (including invaded microbes in case of infections) from all vascularized tissues and discharge it into their draining lymph nodes.
