| Structure | Location | Afferents from | Efferents to | Regions drained | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| axillary nodes | axilla | cubital nodes; lymphatic vessels from the upper limb, thoracic wall and subscapular region | efferents vessels form the subclavian trunk, some drainage to inferior deep cervical nodes | upper limb, most of the mammary gland, some of the anterolateral chest wall, posterior thoracic wall and scapular region | axillary nodes number from 20 to 30 and are organized in five groups based on their position within the axilla: 1) pectoral nodes, along the lateral border of the pectoralis major m.; 2) lateral nodes, located along the distal axillary v.; 3) central nodes, centrally located along axillary v.; 4) subscapular nodes, located along the subscapular v. and its tributaries; 5) apical nodes, located at the apex of axilla |
| axillary nodes, apical | apex of the axilla | lateral axillary nodes; central axillary nodes; subscapular axillary nodes; pectoral nodes; accessory lymphatic vessels from the mammary gland; lymphatic vessels accompanying the cephalic v. | subclavian lymphatic trunk; deep cervical lymph nodes | upper limb, most of the mammary gland, some of the anterolateral chest wall, posterior thoracic wall and scapular region | apical axillary nodes are 6- 12 in number; this is the highest node group in the axilla and all other node groups drain through these nodes; a very important group of nodes in cases of metastatic spread of breast cancer; connections to deep cervical nodes may result in spread of breast cancer through the deep neck |
| axillary nodes, central | in the fat of the axilla | lateral axillary nodes; pectoral nodes; subscapular nodes; lymphatic vessels from the mammary gland and upper limb | apical axillary nodes | upper limb, most of the mammary gland, some of the anterolateral chest wall, posterior thoracic wall and scapular region | central axillary nodes are 4 or 5 in number; they are involved in cancer of the mammary gland |
| axillary nodes, lateral | along the distal axillary v. | cubital nodes; lymphatic vessels of the arm | central axillary nodes, apical axillary nodes | upper limb | lateral axillary nodes become inflamed during upper limb infections; also known as: brachial nodes |
| axillary nodes, subscapular | along the course of the subscapular vessels | lymphatic vessels from the skin of the back and back of the neck; lymphatic vessels from the muscles of the scapular region | central axillary nodes | skin of the back and back of the neck; muscles of the scapular and subscapular regions | subscapular axillary nodes are 5 or 6 in number; also known as: posterior axillary nodes |
| central axillary nodes | in the fat of the axilla | lateral axillary nodes; pectoral nodes; subscapular nodes; lymphatic vessels from the mammary gland and upper limb | apical axillary nodes | upper limb, most of the mammary gland, some of the anterolateral chest wall, posterior thoracic wall and scapular region | central axillary nodes are 4 or 5 in number; they are involved in cancer of the mammary gland |
| cubital nodes | cubital fossa of the upper limb | lymphatic vessels from the forearm | lateral axillary nodes | deep tissues of the forearm and hand | cubital nodes small and are 5 or 6 in number |
| infraclavicular nodes | along the cephalic v. in the deltopectoral groove | lymphatic vessels from the superficial upper limb | apical axillary nodes | skin and superficial fascia of the upper limb | infraclavicular nodes may become inflamed during infections of the superficial tissues of the upper limb |
| pectoral nodes | along the lateral border of the pectoralis major m. along the course of the lateral thoracic vessels | lymphatic vessels from the mammary gland and anterolateral thoracic wall | central axillary nodes | anterolateral thoracic wall and muscles; most of the mammary gland | an important group of nodes to examine during a breast physical exam; also known as: anterior axillary nodes |
| subscapular axillary nodes | along the course of the subscapular vessels | lymphatic vessels from the skin of the back and back of the neck; lymphatic vessels from the muscles of the scapular region | central axillary nodes | skin of the back and back of the neck; muscles of the scapular and subscapular regions | subscapular axillary nodes are 5 or 6 in number; also known as: posterior axillary nodes |
| supraclavicular nodes | in and around carotid sheath below level of omohyoid | superior deep cervical nodes, transverse cervical nodes, spinal accessory nodes | efferents form the jugular lymphatic trunk | head and neck | also known as: inferior deep cervical nodes |
| transverse cervical nodes | along the course of the transverse cervical blood vessels | accessory chain of nodes, sometimes the apical axillary nodes | variable: jugular lymphatic trunk, right lymphatic trunk or thoracic duct | lateral part of the neck, anterior thoracic wall, mammary gland | transverse cervical nodes are approximately 10 in number and may drain directly into the internal jugular v. or subclavian v. |