References:
- Kozier & Erb’s Fundamentals of Nursing: Concepts, Process, and Practice, 11th Edition, ISBN 9780135428733, by Audrey Berman, Shirlee J. Snyder, and Geralyn Frandsen (Ch. 29, pp. 603–604)
Neck
Examination of the neck includes the muscles, lymph nodes, trachea, thyroid gland, carotid arteries, and jugular veins. The areas of the neck are defined by the sternocleidomastoid muscles, which divide each side of the neck into two triangles: the anterior and posterior triangle.
- The trachea, thyroid gland, anterior cervical nodes, and carotid artery lie within the anterior triangle; the carotid artery runs parallel and anterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
- The posterior lymph nodes lie within the posterior triangle.
- Each sternocleidomastoid muscle extends from the upper sternum (sterno-) and the medial third of the clavicle (-cleido-) to the mastoid process (-mastoid).
Lymph Nodes of the Head and Neck
| Node Center | Location | Area Drained |
|---|---|---|
| Occipital | At the posterior base of the skull | The occipital region of the scalp and the deep structures of the back of the neck |
| Postauricular (mastoid) | Behind the auricle of the ear or in front of the mastoid process | The parietal region of the head and part of the ear |
| Preauricular | In front of the tragus of the ear | The forehead and upper face |
| Submandibular (submaxillary) | Along the medial border of the mandible, halfway between the angle of the jaw and the chin | The chin, upper lip, cheek, nose, teeth, eyelids, part of the tongue and floor of the mouth |
| Submental | Behind the tip of the mandible in the midline, under the chin | The anterior third of the tongue, gums, and floor of the mouth |
| Superficial anterior cervical (tonsillar) | Along the mandible, anterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle | The skin and neck |
| Posterior cervical | Along the anterior aspect of the trapezius muscle | The posterior and lateral regions of the neck, occiput, and mastoid |
| Deep cervical | Under the sternocleidomastoid muscle | The larynx, thyroid gland, trachea, and upper part of the esophagus |
| Supraclavicular | Above the clavicle, in the angle between the clavicle and the sternocleidomastoid muscle | The lateral regions of the neck and lungs |
