Lymph nodes and neck lumps Flashcards
What does the lymphatics system do?
1) Removes excess fluid from interstitial fluid preventing accumulation
2) Key role in immune defence and surveillance (source of lymphocytes)
3) returns small proteins and pathogens and fluids that leaked from the capillaries (Can’t return at venue end of capillary so are taken up by the lymph node)
What is lymphoedema?
swelling in body tissues
Is lymphedema common in the head and neck?
No - gravity aids in drainage
What is lymphadenopathy?
Swollen lymph nodes due to infection or malignancy
What do lymph nodes do?
They act as a physical, phagocytic filter and are full of T and B lymphocytes
What do T and B lymphocytes do?
They activate and proliferate in response to antigens causing them to swell giving an immune reaction
Where are most the lymph nodes in the body found?
neck, groin and armpit
What is lymphadenopathy a common cause of ?
Neck lumps
How would a patient present if they had a neck lump due to infection?
Lump would be tender and mobile
How would a patient present if they had a neck lump due to malignancy?
- Hard and matted but not tender
- rubbery, mobile and fast growing (lymphadenopathy with lymphoma)
What would you do if a lymph node was enlarged?
- history
- examine
- examine other lymph nodes and body systems
What are regional lymph nodes?
lymph notdes that are superficial (lie in the superficial cervical fascia) and easily palpated when enlarged
What are examples of regional lymph nodes?
submental, submandibular, pre-auricular, post-auricular/mastoid, occipital
Where are terminal lymph nodes?
lie depp to the investing layer of deep cervical fascia
What do terminal lymph nodes receive compared to regional ones?
all the lymph from the head and neck including lymph drained first via the regional groups (that drain specific areas)
Where do deep tissues and structures of the neck drain into?
termina lymph nodes
What is the juglo-digastric node and where is it located?
tonsillar node - located below and behind the angle of the mandible
What does the tonsillar node drain?
tonsil, oral cavity, tongue
When is the tonislar node swollen and tender?
in tonsillitis or malignancies affecting the structures that it drains
What does the juggle-omohyod node drain?
tongue oral cavity, trachea, oesophagus, thyroid gland
Where are the supraclavicular nodes found?
in the posterior triangle
When will the supraclavicular nodes enlarge?
later stages of malignancies of the abdomen and thorax because they receive lymph from these areas before it drains via the thoracic duct into the venous circulation
What does the left supraclavicular node drain?
abdomen and thorax AKA virchows node
What does the right supraclavicular node drain?
mid section chest, oesophagus and lungs
