Quick Facts
Location: Superior to the tracheal bifurcation.
Drainage: Receive right and left efferent bronchopulmonary lymph vessels.
Direction of Flow: Paratracheal lymph nodes > bronchomediastinal trunk > right lymphatic trunk or thoracic duct.
Description: (Location & Drainage)
The superior tracheobronchial lymph nodes are located just superior to the tracheal bifurcation. These nodes receive the efferent bronchopulmonary lymph vessels; however, variation in drainage does exist from left and right sides.
On the right, the bronchopulmonary lymph nodes drain into the right superior and inferior tracheobronchial lymph nodes and then to the right paratracheal lymph nodes, which returns lymph to the bronchomediastinal trunk and to the right lymphatic duct.
On the left side, the superior lobe drains to the left superior and inferior tracheobronchial lymph nodes and then to the left paratracheal lymph nodes, which returns lymph to the bronchomediastinal trunk and the thoracic duct. The left inferior lobe of the left lung as drains similarly to the superior lobe, however, it also drains to the right superior tracheobronchial lymph nodes, where lymph follows the same route as lymph from the right lung (Netter, 2011).
List of Clinical Correlates
—Lung cancer
References
Netter, F. H. (2011) Atlas of Human Anatomy. Netter Basic Science Series: Saunders/Elsevier.
