submandibular lymph nodes

{{Infobox lymph

| Name = Submandibular lymph nodes

| Latin = nodi lymphoidei submandibulares

| Image = Illu quiz hn 03.jpg

| Caption = 1: Submental lymph nodes
2: Submandibular lymph nodes
3: Supraclavicular lymph nodes
4: Retropharyngeal lymph nodes
5: Buccinator lymph node
6: Superficial cervical lymph nodes
7: Jugular lymph nodes
8: Parotid lymph nodes
9: Retroauricular lymph nodes and occipital lymph nodes

| Image2 = Gray602.png

| Caption2 = Superficial lymph glands and lymphatic vessels of head and neck. (Submaxillary glands labeled at center right.)

| DrainsFrom =

| Source = Mandibular lymph node

| DrainsTo =

}}

The submandibular lymph nodes (submaxillary glands in older texts), are some 3-6 lymph nodes situated at the inferior border of the ramus of mandible.{{Cite book |last=Fehrenbach |first=Margaret J. |title=Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck |last2=Herring |first2=Susan W. |date=2017 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-323-39634-9 |edition=5th |location=St. Louis |pages=250}}

Anatomy

They are situated just superficial to the submandibular salivary gland, and posterolateral to the anterior belly of either digastric muscle.

One gland, the middle gland of Stahr, which lies on the facial artery as it turns over the mandible, is the most constant of the series; small lymph glands are sometimes found on the deep surface of the submandibular gland.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

= Afferents =

They drain the upper lip, body of tongue, cheeks, anterior portion of the hard palate, and most teeth with their associated periodontium and gingiva (except for the mandibular incisor teeth and third molar teeth).

The facial and submental lymph nodes may also drain into the submandibular glands.

= Efferents =

They drain to the superior{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}} deep cervical lymph nodes.

Clinical significance

The most common causes of enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes are infections of the head, neck, ears, eyes, nasal sinuses, pharynx, and scalp.

The lymph glands may be affected by metastatic spread of cancers of the oral cavity, anterior portion of the nasal cavity, soft tissues of the mid-face, and submandibular salivary gland.

Additional images

File:illu_lymph_chain02.jpg|Deep lymph nodes

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20100622160718/http://anatomy.med.umich.edu/surface/head_neck/neck_lymph.html Archived Diagram via umich.edu - rollover to see labels]
https://web.archive.org/web/20080216031919/http://www.med.mun.ca/anatomyts/head/hnl3a.htm
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080517165214/http://www.bcm.edu/oto/studs/anat/neck.html Diagram] at Baylor College of Medicine
[http://patient.info/health/non-hodgkins-lymphoma-leaflet http://www.patient.info/]
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20021201/2103.html
http://www.emedicine.com/ent/topic306.htm#section~anatomy_of_the_cervical_lymphatics

Category:Lymphatics of the head and neck