The most lymph nodes in the neck exist between the front of the neck and the sternocleidomastoid muscle, and some lymph nodes also exist behind the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Some people who are thin or have a long neck can feel their lymph nodes. Normal lymph nodes are usually not enlarged, swollen or painful to the touch and are relatively soft. However, chronic pharyngitis or tonsillitis, for example, may cause long-term enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck. Lymph nodes in the neck must be differentiated from some swellings in the neck, such as thyroid nodules, thyroid adenomas or even thyroid cancer. A thyroid swelling usually follows swallowing and moves up and down, while a lymph node is fixed and does not move in relation to swallowing. You can go to the hospital to have a local ultrasound to identify them.