Lymphatic drainage of the head and neck

Lymph node group	Anatomic areas drained
Occipital	Posterior scalp
Postauricular	Temporal and parietal scalp
Preauricular	Anterior and temporal scalp, midface, nose, anterior ear canal and pinna, lateral conjunctivae
Parotid	Forehead and temporal scalp, midface, nose, external ear canal, middle ear, gums, parotid gland
Submandibular (submaxillary)	Cheek, nose, lips, anterior tongue, submandibular gland, buccal mucosa
Submental	Central lower lip, floor of mouth, tongue
Superficial cervical	Skin, lower larynx, lower ear canal, parotid
Superior deep cervical	Tonsil, adenoid, posterior scalp and neck, tongue, larynx, hypopharynx, thyroid, palate, nose, esophagus, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, other cervicofacial nodes
Inferior deep cervical	Dorsal scalp and neck, nasopharynx, superficial pectoral region of the arm, superior deep cervical

Lymphatic_drainage_head.htm

Graphic 77551 Version 2.0