VCP 411: Medicine Section

LYMPHNODES

• The lymph nodes are structural and functional units of the lymphatic system. Lymph nodule or group of lymph nodules vary from individual to individual.
• They are well placed so that they are no influenced by external factors
• Lymphnode is made up of thin capsule (collagenous connective tissue has a sinus inside along with septa and trabeculae formed by the connective tissue)
• They perform the phagocytosis function by filtration of microorganisms
• They are responsible for cell-mediated immunity.

Various lymphnodes and their drain

1. Mandibular
2. Prescapular
3. Axillary
4. Red dots -drain to deeper area
5. Superficial inguinal
6. Popliteal
7. Parotid

• Apart from mandibular and parotid there is elongated retropahryngeal lymphnodes between the atlas and the larynx.

What do you look for?

• Size - Lymph node can be palpated, if there is increase to more than one and a half times than the normal size ( imagined based on animal size) is suspicious and if greater the swelling then it is pathological.
• Shape - Normally ellipsoidal and maintain the shape unless the lymphnodes are affected by metastasis.
• Consistency - Normally rubber like whereas turn hard when there some pathology.
• Pain & Adherence - No pain normally and are freely movable where as when there any inflammation or tumour involvement the nodes can't be moved.