Lymph nodes of head in animals

Lymph nodes of head are Pterygoid lymph node, Parotid lymph node, Mandibular lymph node, Suprapharyngeal lymph node, Peripharyngeal lymph node, Atlantal lymph node.

Pterygoid lymph node

• Pterygoid lymph node is a very small gland (absent in horse and dog) situated on the upper part of the lateral face of the pterygoid near the maxillary tuberosity.
• Afferents: Hard palate,  gums etc.
• Efferents: To mandibular node

Protid lymph node

• Protid lymph node is situated superficially on the lateral face of the posterior portion of the masseter muscle partly under cover of the parotid salivary gland.
• Afferents: Muscles of the head, eye, eyelids, external ear, parotid salivary glands, lips, cheeks, anterior part of turbinates, frontal, nasal, malar and premaxillary bones.
• Efferents: To atlantal node.

Mandibular lymph node

• Mandibular lymph node is situated superficially on the lower part of the mandibular salivary gland below the external maxillary vein and is covered by the tendon of insertion of sterno mandibularis. 
• Afferents: Cheek, tongue, hard plate, gums, sublingual salivary gland, muscles of head and bones of the skull.
• Efferents: To atlantal nodes.

Suprapharyngeal lymph node

• Suprapharyngeal lymph node are situated close together on the median line of the dorsal wall of the pharynx medial to the great cornu of hyoid bone.
• Afferents: Tongue, hard palate, pharynx, soft palate, sublingual, mandibular salivary glands, larynx, maxillary and palatine sinuses.
• Efferents: To tracheal lymph ducts.

Peripharyngeal lymph node

• Peripharyngeal lymph node is small and is situated on the lateral aspect of the pharynx inseparably blended with the tonsil under the cover of mandibular salivary gland ventral to the carotid artery and atlantal node.
• Afferents: Salivary glands, hyoid muscles and efferents of parotid, mandibular and suprapharyngeal lymph nodes.
• Efferents: To the tracheal ducts.

Atlantal lymph node

• Atlantal lymph node is situated below the wing of the atlas under cover of the mandibular salivary gland.
• Afferents: Hyoid and cervical muscles, salivary glands, tongue, efferents of parotid mandibular and suprapharyngeal nodes.
• Efferents: To tracheal duct.