Occipital lymph nodes

The occipital lymph nodes, one to three in number, are located on the back of the head close to the margin of the trapezius and resting on the insertion of the semispinalis capitis.

Occipital lymph nodes
Superficial lymph glands and lymphatic vessels of head and neck. (Occipital glands labeled at center left.)
Lymph nodes at surface: 1. Occipital (retroauricular) 2. Mastoid 3. Superficial parotid 4. Deep parotid 5. Preauricular 6. Infra-auricular 7. Intraglandular parotid Facial lymph nodes: 8. Buccinator 9. Nasolabial 10. Mandibular 11. Anterior cervical (superficial jugular) 12. Superficial cervical (external jugular)
Details
System	Lymphatic system
Drains from	scalp, occiput
Identifiers
Latin	nodi lymphoidei occipitales
FMA	61214
Anatomical terminology

Their afferent vessels drain the occipital region of the scalp, while their efferents pass to the superior deep cervical glands.

Additional images

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Etymology

The word occipital comes from the Latin: occiput ("the back of the head").

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 692 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

• lesson5 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (livingnecklateral)
• http://www.patient.info
• http://www.emedicine.com/ent/topic306.htm#section~anatomy_of_the_cervical_lymphatics