Quick Facts
Location: Embedded in and surrounding the parotid gland
Drainage: The parotid gland, the frontal, parietal and temporal scalp, the nares, gingiva and the upper lip, the eyelids, the outer and middle ear. The oral cavity
Direction of Flow: internal jugular nodes > supraclavicular nodes > jugular trunk > thoracic duct (left) or right lymphatic duct.
Related parts of the anatomy
Description
Located within the parotid gland and embedded in the fascia surrounding the gland are the parotid lymph nodes and vessels. These afferent vessels drain the parotid gland itself as well as a large area of the face and scalp and parts of the facial cavities, including the oral and nasal cavities.
Drainage of mastoid nodes occurs through the deep lateral cervical vessels, primarily the internal jugular vessels either directly or via the infraauricular vessels. In 58% of cases, there is collateral drainage along lymph vessels that follow the course of the external jugular vein (Földi et al., 2012).
References
Földi, M., Földi, E., Strößenreuther, R. and Kubik, S. (2012) Földi's Textbook of Lymphology: for Physicians and Lymphedema Therapists. Elsevier Health Sciences.
