Submental lymph nodes

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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

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]

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]