Quick Facts
Location: On the surface of the parotid gland, with close relations to the surrounding fascia.
Drainage: The frontal and parietal area of the scalp, nares, upper eyelids, lateral half of the lower eyelids, the external ear, and auditory tube.
Direction of Flow: Internal jugular nodes > supraclavicular nodes > jugular trunk > thoracic duct (left) or right lymphatic duct.
Related parts of the anatomy
Description
The preauricular nodes are usually one to four nodes located either outside the parotid fascia (epifascial) or embedded within the fascia (subfascial). They are usually found in close relation to the superficial temporal artery and vein. They have afferents from the skin overlying the face and temporal bone.
Drainage from these lymph nodes is via the internal jugular nodes. However, there may be collaterals that course with the external jugular vein. These superficial nodes can be palpated when they are draining excess lymphatic fluid, for example during ear or eye infections.
List of Clinical Correlates
—Ear infection
—Eye infection
