Deep cervical lymph nodes

The deep cervical lymph nodes are a group of cervical lymph nodes in the neck^[1] that form a chain along the internal jugular vein within the carotid sheath.^[2]

Deep cervical lymph nodes
Deep Lymph Nodes Submental Submandibular (Submaxillary) Anterior Cervical Lymph Nodes (Deep) Prelaryngeal Thyroid Pretracheal Paratracheal Deep Cervical Lymph Nodes Lateral jugular Anterior jugular Jugulodigastric Inferior Deep Cervical Lymph Nodes Juguloomohyoid Supraclavicular (scalene)
Details
System	Lymphatic system
Drains to	Jugular trunk
Identifiers
Latin	nodi lymphoidei cervicales profundi
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

Structure

Classification

The deep cervical lymph nodes are subdivided into a superior group and an inferior group.^[3][4]

Alternatively, they can be divided into deep anterior cervical lymph nodes and deep lateral cervical lymph nodes.^{[citation needed]}

They can also be divided into three groups: "superior deep jugular", "middle deep jugular", and "inferior deep jugular".^[5][6]

Relations

The deep cervical lymph nodes are contained in the carotid sheath in the neck, close to the internal jugular vein.^[7] They connect to the meningeal lymphatic vessels superiorly.^[8][9]

Afferents

All lymphatic vessels of the head and neck ultimately drain to the deep cervical lymph nodes - either by way of other lymph nodes or directly from tissues.^[4]

The deep cervical lymph nodes serve as the principal drainage site for both lymphatic fluid and cerebrospinal fluid carried by the meningeal lymphatic vessels of the central nervous system, making them the primary site of immune surveillance for CNS-derived antigens.^[10]

Efferents

Efferents of the deep cervical lymph nodes form the ipsilateral jugular trunk.^[4]