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What are the Lymph nodes of the Upper limb

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Upper limb lymph nodes
All upper limb lymph nodes


A. Superficial groups of lymph nodes :

1. Supra trochlear lymph nodes :

Supratrochlear lymph nodes
Supratrochlear Lymph node

I. Location/Position/Relations of Supratrochlear lymph nodes :

  1. Bony relations – These groups of lymph nodes are situated anterior and medial to the lower end of Humerus specifically superior to the trochlea of the humerus.
  2. Muscle relations – Above origin of three muscles and they are – Pronator teres, Flexor carpi radialis, Palmaris longus.
  3. Vascular relations – Along the basilic vein.

II. Drainage of Supratrochlear lymph nodes :

  • The superficial lymphatic vessels go across the superficial veins in the right upper limb.
  • Cubital lymph nodes/Supratrochlear lymph nodes flow into the lymph nodes of the axilla.
  • The subclavian trunk receives lymph from the axillary nodes on the right side of the body.
  • The right lymphatic duct is formed when the subclavian trunk connects the bronchomediastinal and jugular trunks, or it empties straight into the right venous angle (the junction of the subclavian and internal jugular veins).

III. Pathologies of Supratrochlear lymph nodes :

  1. Infection – Impetigo of scalp, Cat scratch disease, Ringworm infections, Head lice, Rubella virus infection, Scalp psoriasis, Infectious mononucleosis.
  2. Autoimmune disease – SLE, Rheumatoid arthritis, Sarcoidosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome
  3. Carcinoma – Melanoma, Lymphoma etc

2. Deltoideopectoral groups of lymph nodes :

Deltoideopectoral lymph nodes
Deltoideopectoral LN

I. Location/Position/Relations of Deltoidopectoral lymph nodes :

  1. Bony relations – Above the second rib along the mid clavicular line.
  2. Muscle relations – Present between the junction of deltoid and clavicular head of pectoralis major muscle.
  3. Vascular relations – Along the medial border of cephalic vein.

II. Drainage of Deltoidopectoral lymph nodes :

  • The superficial lymphatic vessels go across the superficial veins in the right upper limb.
  • These vessels drain into the axillary lymph nodes, which include the lymph nodes in the axilla.
  • The subclavian trunk receives lymph from the axillary nodes on the right side of the body.
  • The right lymphatic duct is formed when the subclavian trunk connects the bronchomediastinal and jugular trunks, or it empties straight into the right venous angle (the junction of the subclavian and internal jugular veins).

III. Pathologies of Deltoidopectoral lymph nodes :


3. Axillary groups of lymph nodes :

Axillary group of lymph nodes
Axillary group of lymph nodes

I. Location/Position/Relations of Axillary groups of lymph nodes :

  1. Bony relations – Laterally to 3rd and 4th rib and medially to the upper end of humerus.
  2. Muscle relations – Along the biceps brachii short head.
  3. Vascular relations – Above the axillary artery.

II. Drainage of Axillary groups of lymph nodes :

  • The superficial lymphatic vessels go across the superficial veins in the right upper limb.
  • These vessels drain into the axillary lymph nodes, which include the lymph nodes in the axilla.
  • The subclavian trunk receives lymph from the axillary nodes on the right side of the body.
  • The right lymphatic duct is formed when the subclavian trunk connects the bronchomediastinal and jugular trunks, or it empties straight into the right venous angle (the junction of the subclavian and internal jugular veins).

III. Pathologies of Axillary groups of lymph nodes :

  1. Bacterial and viral infection
  2. Vaccination for measles, small pox, tuberculosis
  3. Cat-scratch fever
  4. Strep throat
  5. HIV
  6. Autoimmune lmphoproliferative syndrome
  7. Lymphoma
  8. Sporotrichosis

A. Deep groups of lymph nodes :

1. Lateral groups of lymph nodes :

Lateral lymph nodes
Lateral group of lymph nodes

I. Location/Position/Relations of Lateral groups of lymph nodes :

  1. Bony relations – Present above the 2nd-4th ribs.
  2. Muscle relations – Between the biceps brachii short head and pectoralis minor.
  3. Vascular relations – Above the axillary vein.

II. Drainage of Lateral groups of lymph nodes :

  • The superficial lymphatic vessels go across the superficial veins in the right upper limb.
  • These vessels drain into the axillary lymph nodes, which include the lymph nodes in the axilla.
  • The subclavian trunk receives lymph from the axillary nodes on the right side of the body.
  • The right lymphatic duct is formed when the subclavian trunk connects the bronchomediastinal and jugular trunks, or it empties straight into the right venous angle (the junction of the subclavian and internal jugular veins).

III. Pathologies of Lateral groups of lymph nodes :

  1. Breas carcinoma
  2. Infection
  3. Autoimmune disease
  4. Blood carcinoma

2. Anterior or pectoral groups of lymph nodes :

Pectoral group of lymph nodes
Pectoral group of lymph node

I. Location/Position/Relations of Pectoral group of lymph nodes :

  1. Bony relations – Above 4th-6th rib.
  2. Muscle relations – Below the pectorals major and above the upper border of serrates anterior.
  3. Vascular relations – Lateral/above the lateral thoracic vein.

II. Drainage of Pectoral group of lymph nodes :

  • The superficial lymphatic vessels go across the superficial veins in the right upper limb.
  • These vessels drain into the axillary lymph nodes, which include the lymph nodes in the axilla.
  • The subclavian trunk receives lymph from the axillary nodes on the right side of the body.
  • The right lymphatic duct is formed when the subclavian trunk connects the bronchomediastinal and jugular trunks, or it empties straight into the right venous angle (the junction of the subclavian and internal jugular veins).

III. Pathologies of Pectoral group of lymph nodes :

  1. Breast carcinoma
  2. Infection

3. Posterior axillary or sub capsular groups of lymph nodes :

Posterior axillary lymph nodes
Posterior axillary lymph nodes

I. Location/Position/Relations of Subcapsular group of lymph nodes :

  1. Bony relations – Medial to the upper end of humerus.
  2. Muscle relations – Along the biceps brachii short head.
  3. Vascular relations – Above axillary vein and artery.

II. Drainage of Pectoral group of Subcapsular group of lymph nodes :

  • The superficial lymphatic vessels go across the superficial veins in the right upper limb.
  • These vessels drain into the axillary lymph nodes, which include the lymph nodes in the axilla.
  • The subclavian trunk receives lymph from the axillary nodes on the right side of the body.
  • The right lymphatic duct is formed when the subclavian trunk connects the bronchomediastinal and jugular trunks, or it empties straight into the right venous angle (the junction of the subclavian and internal jugular veins).

III. Pathologies of Pectoral group of Subcapsular group of lymph nodes :

  1. Breast carcinoma
  2. Infection
  3. Blood cancer
  4. Lung carcinoma

4. Central or Intermediate groups of lymph nodes :

Central axillary group of lymph nodes
Central group of axillary lymph nodes

I. Location/Position/Relations of Central group of lymph nodes :

  1. Bony relations – Above the 3rd rib and along the mid-clavicular line.
  2. Muscle relations – Above and lateral to the upper 1/3rd of Pectoralis minor.
  3. Vascular relations – Above the lateral thoracic vein.

II. Drainage of Central group of lymph nodes :

  • The superficial lymphatic vessels go across the superficial veins in the right upper limb.
  • These vessels drain into the axillary lymph nodes, which include the lymph nodes in the axilla.
  • The subclavian trunk receives lymph from the axillary nodes on the right side of the body.
  • The right lymphatic duct is formed when the subclavian trunk connects the bronchomediastinal and jugular trunks, or it empties straight into the right venous angle (the junction of the subclavian and internal jugular veins).

III. Pathologies of Central group of lymph nodes :

  1. Breast cancer
  2. Lung cancer
  3. Infections

5. Medial/Sub clavicular groups of lymph nodes :

Subclavicular lymph nodes
Subclavicular lymph nodes

I. Location/Position/Relations of Subclavicular group of lymph nodes :

  1. Bony relations – Below the lateral 1/3rd of the clavicle.
  2. Muscle relations – Below the anterior head of deltoid muscle
  3. Vascular relations – Above axillary vein, where it forming the cephalic vein.

II. Drainage of Subclavicular group of lymph nodes :

  • The superficial lymphatic vessels go across the superficial veins in the right upper limb.
  • These vessels drain into the axillary lymph nodes, which include the lymph nodes in the axilla.
  • The subclavian trunk receives lymph from the axillary nodes on the right side of the body.
  • The right lymphatic duct is formed when the subclavian trunk connects the bronchomediastinal and jugular trunks, or it empties straight into the right venous angle (the junction of the subclavian and internal jugular veins).

III. Pathologies of Subclavicular group of lymph nodes :

  1. Infection
  2. Breast cancer


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