The lymph nodes in the neck can be broadly categorized into superficial anterior cervical lymph nodes, deep anterior cervical lymph nodes, superficial lateral cervical lymph nodes, deep lower lateral cervical lymph nodes, and deep upper lateral cervical lymph nodes; the distribution of different lymph nodes is different.
1. Anterior superficial cervical lymph nodes: they are arranged along the anterior jugular vein, organize the lymph nodes of the superficial structures of the anterior cervical region, and flow into the deep lymph nodes of the lateral cervical region.
2. Anterior deep cervical lymph nodes: located in front of the larynx, thyroid isthmus, and tracheal neck, they receive lymph from the larynx, thyroid gland, and tracheal neck, and inject it into the lateral deep cervical lymph nodes.
3. Lateral superficial cervical lymph nodes: arranged along the external jugular vein, harboring superficial lymph and injecting it into the lateral deep cervical lymph nodes.
4. Lower lateral deep cervical lymph nodes: the lymph nodes of the department continue to the lateral side and form supraclavicular lymph nodes. In the case of cancer of the lower esophagus or stomach, the cancer cells may enter the left supraclavicular lymph node through the thoracic duct, and the enlarged lymph node can be touched at the posterior border of the left sternocleidomastoid muscle and the superior border of the clavicle.
5. Lateral upper deep cervical lymph nodes: they can be divided into retropharyngeal lymph nodes (located between the posterior pharyngeal wall and the prevertebral fascia, harboring the lymph of nose and nasopharynx, etc.), and internal jugular vein diametral lymph nodes (located in the intersection of posterior belly of the diametral muscle and the internal jugular vein, harboring the lymph of nasopharynx and palatine tonsils).
If the patient touches the enlarged lymph nodes, or the lymph nodes are painful, red and other symptoms, should go to the relevant departments of the regular hospital to avoid delaying the condition and causing adverse consequences.