Quick Facts
Location: Lateral to the entire length of the internal jugular vein.
Drainage: Pathway of drainage of almost all territories of the head.
Direction of Flow: Jugular trunk > thoracic duct (left) or right lymphatic duct.
Related parts of the anatomy
Description
The lateral internal jugular nodes are located the entire length of the internal jugular vein and are usually relatively small. There are between 10 and 20 of them in the lateral aspect of the neck. At the proximal end of the internal jugular vein, some nodes may be located behind the anterior scalene muscle. Their drainage territory includes most of the head, since many nodes drain into this network of nodes and vessels on their way through the neck (Földi et al., 2012).
List of Clinical Correlates
—Metastatic deposits from malignancies of the oral cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx
References
Földi, M., Földi, E., Strößenreuther, R. and Kubik, S. (2012) Földi's Textbook of Lymphology: for Physicians and Lymphedema Therapists. Elsevier Health Sciences.
