Quick Facts
Location: Forms chain along subscapular and thoracodorsal veins.
Drainage: Shoulder and back region.
Direction of Flow: Central axillary lymph nodes > infraclavicular lymph nodes > subclavian trunk > right lymphatic duct (right) or thoracic duct (left).
Description
The posterior axillary lymph nodes are located in a partial position of the axilla, along the subscapular and thoracodorsal veins. The upper posterior nodes are located on the inferior border of the subscapular muscle, whilst the lower nodes are located in the space between teres major and latissimus dorsi. There can be up to 12 posterior lymph nodes, which receive lymph from the shoulder and back regions as far as the iliac crest. The efferent vessels of the subscapular nodes drain into the central axillary nodes and from here to the infraclavicular nodes (Földi et al., 2012).
List of Clinical Correlates
—Breast cancer
References
Földi, M., Földi, E., Strößenreuther, R. and Kubik, S. (2012) Földi's Textbook of Lymphology: for Physicians and Lymphedema Therapists. Elsevier Health Sciences.
