Submental lymph nodes

Summary

The submental lymph nodes (or suprahyoid lymph nodes[citation needed]) are 2-3 lymph nodes[1] situated in the submental triangle,[1] between the anterior bellies of the digastric muscle and the hyoid bone.[2]

Submental lymph nodes
Superficial lymph glands and lymphatic vessels of head and neck. (Buccinator glands labeled at center right.)
Details
SystemLymphatic system
Identifiers
Latinnodi lymphoidei submentales
Anatomical terminology
[edit on Wikidata]

Anatomy edit

The submental lymph nodes are situated in the submental fascial space. They are situated close to the midline. They are immediately superficial to the mylohyoid muscle.[1]

Afferents edit

They drain the lower lip, floor of the mouth, apex of the tongue, chin, and inferior/mandibular incisor teeth and their associated periodontium and gingiva.[1]

Efferents edit

They drain either to submandibular lymph nodes (which then drain to deep cervical lymph nodes), or to the deep cervical lymph nodes directly.[1]

Clinical significance edit

The most common cause of enlargement of the submental lymph nodes are infections (including viral infections (mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and cytomegaloviral infections), toxoplasmosis, and dental infections (e.g. periodontitis)).[1]

The lymph nodes may be affected by metastatic spread from cancers of their drained territories.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Fehrenbach, Margaret J.; Herring, Susan W. (2017). Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck (5th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier. p. 250. ISBN 978-0-323-39634-9.
  2. ^ Smeele, Ludi E. (2017-01-01), Brennan, Peter A.; Schliephake, Henning; Ghali, G. E.; Cascarini, Luke (eds.), "25 - Neck Dissection", Maxillofacial Surgery (Third Edition), Churchill Livingstone, pp. 398–404, doi:10.1016/b978-0-7020-6056-4.00026-5, ISBN 978-0-7020-6056-4, retrieved 2020-11-14

External links edit

  • lesson5 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (livingnecklateral)
  • Image at umich.edu - must rollover
  • Lymphatic drainage and fascial planes in the neck
  • Diagram at Baylor College of Medicine
  • Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma | Symptoms and Types
  • Neck, Cervical Metastases, Detection: Overview, Anatomy of the Cervical Lymphatics, Classification of Cervical Node Groups