HEALTH EDUCATION Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Deep Cervical Lymph Nodes, Cervical Lymph Nodes, Subclavian Vein

• School: Kerala University of Health Sciences - KUHS
• Department: Public Health
• Course: HEALTH EDUCATION

Document Summary

The lymphatic system functions to drain tissue fluid, plasma proteins and other cellular debris back into the blood stream, and is also involved in immune defence. Once this collection of substances enters the lymphatic vessels, it is known as lymph. Lymph is subsequently filtered by lymph nodes and directed into the venous system. This article will explore the anatomy of lymphatic drainage throughout the head and neck, and how this is relevant clinically. We will also look at waldeyer"s ring, the collection of lymphatic tissue surrounding the superior pharynx. The lymphatic vessels of the head and neck can be divided into two major groups; superficial vessels and deep vessels. The superficial vessels drain lymph from the scalp, face and neck into the superficial ring of lymph nodes at the junction of the neck and head. The deep lymphatic vessels of the head and neck arise from the deep cervical lymph nodes.