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
SystemLymphatic system
Drains fromScalp, occiput
Identifiers
Latinnodi lymphoidei occipitales
FMA61214
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

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

References

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

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