Occipital lymph nodes
| Occipital lymph nodes | |
|---|---|
 Superficial lymph glands and lymphatic vessels of head and neck. (Occipital glands labeled at center left.) | |
 Lymph nodes at surface:
Facial lymph nodes:
| |
| Details | |
| System | Lymphatic system |
| Drains from | Scalp, occiput |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nodi lymphoidei occipitales |
| FMA | 61214 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The occipital lymph nodes are a group of 1-3 superficial lymph nodes of the head situated in the occipital region that drain part of the scalp of the occiput.[1]
They are situated at the margin of the trapezius and resting on the insertion of the semispinalis capitis.
Territory
Afferents
Afferents of occipital lymph nodes contribute to the drainage of the occipital region of the scalp (this region is also drained by a lymphatic vessel which passes along the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle to drain directly into the inferior deep cervical lymph nodes).[2]
Efferents
Their efferents in turn drain into the superior deep cervical glands.[1][2]
Clinical examination
During physical examination, these nodes are examined by having the patient bend their head forward and bilaterally palpating the base of the side of the head.[1]
Additional images
Etymology
The word occipital comes from the Latin: occiput ("the back of the head").
References
- 1 2 3 Fehrenbach, Margaret J.; Herring, Susan W. (2017). Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck (5th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier. p. 231. ISBN 978-0-323-39634-9.
- 1 2 Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York: Elsevier. p. 630. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.
External links
- lesson5 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (livingnecklateral)
- http://www.patient.info
- http://www.emedicine.com/ent/topic306.htm#section~anatomy_of_the_cervical_lymphatics
