List of lymph nodes of the human body


Humans have approximately 500–600 lymph nodes distributed throughout the body, with clusters found in the underarms, groin, neck, chest, and abdomen.

Lymph nodes of the head

Lymph nodes of the neck

Lymph nodes of the thorax

  • Lymph nodes of the lungs: The lymph is drained from the lung tissue through subsegmental, segmental, lobar and interlobar lymph nodes to the hilar lymph nodes, which are located around the hilum of each lung. The lymph flows subsequently to the mediastinal lymph nodes.
  • Mediastinal lymph nodes: They consist of several lymph node groups, especially along the trachea, along the esophagus and between the lung and the diaphragm. In the mediastinal lymph nodes arises lymphatic ducts, which drains the lymph to the left subclavian vein.
The mediastinal lymph nodes along the esophagus are in tight connection with the abdominal lymph nodes along the esophagus and the stomach. That fact facilitates spreading of tumor cells through these lymphatics in cases of cancers of the stomach and particularly of the esophagus.
Through the mediastinum, the main lymphatic drainage from the abdominal organs goes via the thoracic duct, which drains majority of the lymph from the abdomen to the above-mentioned left venous angle.

Lymph nodes of the abdomen

These include:
Nodes around the iliac vessels are:
Others in the pelvis include:

Lymph nodes of the arm

These drain the whole of the arm, and are divided into two groups, superficial and deep. The superficial nodes are supplied by lymphatics that are present throughout the arm, but are particularly rich on the palm and flexor aspects of the digits.
  • Superficial lymph nodes of the arm:
  • * Supratrochlear nodes: Situated above the medial epicondyle of the humerus, medial to the basilic vein, they drain the C7 and C8 dermatomes.
  • * Deltoideopectoral nodes: Situated between the pectoralis major and deltoid muscles inferior to the clavicle.
  • Deep lymph nodes of the arm: These comprise the axillary nodes, which are 20-30 individual nodes and can be subdivided into:
  • * Lateral nodes
  • * Anterior or pectoral nodes
  • * Posterior or subscapular nodes
  • * Central or intermediate nodes
  • * Medial or subclavicular nodes

Lower limbs

Distribution

The lymphatic vessels that link the lymph nodes are: