lymph node palpations/ultrasound (+spleen)

Question 1

list the palpable superficial lymph nodes in cows and describe their location

Answer 1

submandibular lymph node:
- palpable on the medial aspect of the ‘angle of the jaw’ where the horizontal and vertical rami of the madnible meet
- normal size is 1.5-2 cm diameter

prescapular:
- lie subcutaneously and underneath the cutaneous muscle just anterior to the shoulder joint.
- vary in size, often elongated in dorsoventral direction. normal size is 1-3.5 cm diameter

sub iliac:
- palpable cylindrical object just cranial to the stifle
- length varies fro 3-10 cm and width around 3-25 mm in adults

Question 2

list and describe the superficial lymph nodes in the dog

Answer 2

sub mandibular:
- 2+ on each side, pea sized flattened structures and the edge of the angle of the jaw, rostral to the mandibular salicary gland

pre scapular:
- medium sized, in front of the shoulder joint at the base of the neck

axillary:
- not always palpable, small flattened structures each side of the chest under the forelimb

superficial inguinal:
- not often palpable, especially if fat
- small/medium in the groin between the though and the abdominal body wall

popliteal:
- large, grape sized over muscles caudal to stifle

Question 3

how do you find the spleen using ultrasound

Answer 3

• palpate the xiphoid process, from this landmark caudally apply the curvilinear transducer to the ventrum of the dog
• with thumb on notch, and notch facing dogs head, fan the transducer slightly to the left and cadually looking for tail and head of spleen