The location of the lymph nodes on the body

Lymph nodes are part of the human lymphatic system, which is the "protector" of the body. They prevent the entry of pathogenic bacteria and viruses into the blood. The location of the lymph nodes on the human body, photos and more detailed information about the structure of the lymphatic system can be found in this article.

Human lymphatic system

Many of us know the structure of the circulatory system and other vital organs, but they lose sight of the lymphatic system. Nevertheless, it plays a key role in the life of the body, because without it a person will not live longer than a few hours. What does this system consist of?

1. Lymph is a clear liquid that, in its consistency, is more like blood. But, unlike her, lymph flows only in one direction, without forming a vicious circle. It is a fluid from blood capillaries that contains oxygen and nutrients. Lymph flows slowly from smaller vessels to larger ones, without a central pump and moving only through a valve system.
2. Lymphatic vessels carry lymph. There are vessels that divert lymph from the capillaries and from various organs. In the lower neck, the lymphatic vessels flow into the large veins. In the body there is virtually no organ that is not pierced by them.
3. Lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, tonsils, spleen). These organs play the role of a kind of filter that passes the lymph through itself, trapping bacteria and viruses.

The main role of the lymphatic system is to transport the cells of the immune system and enrich the circulatory system with lipids. It also helps to cleanse the body of harmful substances and accelerates the metabolism in tissues. Lymph nodes are a key component of the system, because it depends on them whether the lymph will be cleaned of unwanted bacteria or not. According to the photo, only a specialist can see the location of lymph nodes on the body, but everyone can feel the surface nodules. In this simplest way, you can determine if you have problems in the lymphatic system or not.

Lymph node anatomy

Lymph nodes are striking in the variety of their shapes and sizes. In the human body, you can find oval and round, small (0.5 mm) and large (up to 5 cm) kidney-shaped organs. All of them are located on the way near the vessels along which lymph flows, usually in groups of 5-10 pieces. Next to them are large veins or capillaries. By structure, the lymph node is divided into several parts.

• The cortical zone is involved in the creation of cells of the immune system (macrophages and monocytes with lymphocytes), which the blood carries throughout the body.
• The paracortical zone is located in the middle of the lymph node, and lymphatic cells are formed in it that form the antiviral defense.
• Brain zone - cells of the immune system are also formed here, but in addition to them, the brain zone stimulates the blood formation process in the red bone marrow, which is why it is considered one of the key parts of the lymphatic system.
  

Lymph nodes begin to form already in the tenth week of pregnancy, forming compounds with the vascular system. After the birth of the baby, the lymphatic system begins intensive work, protecting the baby's body from infections. In the early years, immunity is imperfect, but over time it becomes stronger, and a person has the opportunity to withstand many diseases.

External lymph nodes

In the human body, there are many lymph nodes. They are distributed evenly throughout the body, some are located inside the organs, and some are located outside, under the skin. They are called external, and anyone can grope them at home. For their examination, you do not need to resort to painful diagnostic procedures, rather simple palpation, so it is often used to make a diagnosis. At the location, several major groups of lymph nodes are distinguished.

1. Cervical - many lymph nodes are located in the neck and head. They can be felt under the collarbones, behind and in front of the neck, under the jaw. In the normal state, they are practically not noticeable, but, as soon as a virus penetrates the body, they immediately respond, increasing in size. The location of the enlarged nodes allows you to more accurately determine the source of the disease.
2. Lymph nodes on the head. Their location is familiar only to specialists: they are on the back of the head and behind the ears, and finding them is quite difficult, unlike the neck ones.
3. Axillary lymph nodes are located close to the skin, so they can be felt, even if they are not inflamed. They play an important role in the body: lymph from the chest and mammary glands flows through them. Inflammation of these lymph nodes may be an indirect sign of the onset of cancer. There are several lymph nodes in this area, you can meet the upper, lower, central and posterior organs of the lymphatic system.
4. Inguinal lymph nodes. The location of the lymph nodes in women and men in the groin is identical. They can be easily felt in the area of ​​the inguinal fold, as they are located close to the surface of the skin. In these accumulations of lymph nodes, lymph flows from the lower parts of the body, that is, from the legs and pelvis, as well as from the genitals.
5. The popliteal and ulnar lymph nodes are located at the bend of the arms and legs of a person. They play a lesser role than cervical or axillary nodes, since only the state of the limbs is in their department, and their "sphere of influence" does not affect important organs. Inflammation of these lymph nodes may indicate damage or inflammation of the skin and joints, as well as bones.

The description, photo and location of the lymph nodes on the neck and near the surface of the skin helps to better understand the structure of the human body and to understand how its immune system works. In addition, regular self-testing of these structures allows you to identify many diseases on time.

Internal lymph nodes

In addition to external lymph nodes, there are many internal organs of the lymphatic system hidden from the eyes in the human body. What is the location of the internal lymph nodes, and what are they responsible for?

1. Bronchopulmonary lymph nodes - this definition is given to those lymph nodes that are located in the lungs. As you might guess, their task is to ensure the outflow of fluid from the lungs. They can be found next to the main bronchi and pulmonary aorta. Lymph nodes in the lungs play a crucial role in human health, since the quality and longevity of a person depends on the lungs. These nodes cannot be seen on x-rays or felt, therefore, for their diagnosis, the patient is usually prescribed an MRI. If a person becomes ill with bronchitis or pneumonia, bronchopulmonary nodes increase in size.
2. Splenic lymph nodes can only be examined using ultrasound.
3. Parietal lymph nodes are located in the abdomen, next to internal organs and large blood vessels. Their main function is lymphatic drainage of the bladder, adrenal glands and kidneys. In the normal state, their size does not exceed 1.5 cm, and may increase due to a mechanical barrier to lymph outflow, oncological or inflammatory processes.
4. The Waldeyer-Pirogov ring is known to most as tonsils. This is the only organ of the lymphatic system that we can consider. Tonsils are responsible for antiviral protection, they are the first to take the blow from infections, so they often become inflamed, especially in young children and the elderly. You can feel them and determine the size if you put your fingers on both sides of the lower border of the jaw.

The location of the lymph nodes on the human body

Why do you need to know where the lymph nodes are in the human body? This helps to better understand the features of the immune system and find out why the lymphatic system is needed at all. You can easily determine the location of the lymph nodes from the photo.

But what if there is no visual aid at hand? Then you can navigate by the name of the node. For example, cervical lymph nodes are located in the cervical region. There are deep, posterior, occipital, superficial, parotid, gonzillary, submandibular and chin lymph nodes. As a rule, they form clusters of 5-10 nodes and are in close proximity to arteries or veins.

The location of the lymph nodes on the head is easy to remember. Even if you do not know the exact place of their localization, it is enough to walk a hand over the scalp, pressing it lightly. If you find a small elastic ball - this is likely to be an inflamed lymph node.

The location of human lymph nodes can be determined in several ways:

• by palpation;
• using diagnostic methods (ultrasound, MRI).

It is impossible to probe the internal nodes, but the subcutaneous is quite real. If you know the scheme of their location, with the help of hands you can determine whether there are inflammatory processes in the body or not. Often people need a photo of the location of the lymph nodes on the neck in order to understand where they should be looked for. But once looking at the diagram, it can be easily remembered.

Lymph node palpation technique

Feeling the nodes of the lymphatic system is a reliable way to diagnose various disorders in the body. Palpation should be done with two hands at the same time on both sides. In most cases, the location of the lymph nodes on the neck and other parts of the body is mirrored, so be sure to compare the size of the affected organ with a healthy one. Palpation of the head begins with the occipital region. They feel the surface of the skin with slightly bent and relaxed fingers, the pillows of which must inseparably slide over the head. After palpating the behind-the-ear nodes, which are in a small depression. To understand the condition of the submandibular nodes, it is enough to put your fingers under the jaw and feel them. The same thing needs to be done with the chin lymph nodes.

The same scheme should be repeated in the neck, collarbone, chest, armpits and groin. If you find an enlarged lymph node, the location on the body will be able to say a lot about which inflammatory organ is in which internal organ.

Lymph node function

Lymph nodes perform different functions in our body.

• Hematopoietic - lymph nodes produce cells that affect the red bone marrow, which produces red blood cells.
• The autoimmune function of the lymph nodes allows their cells to respond to foreign bodies in the body. As a result, the lymphatic system begins to produce more immune cells, which eliminates the source of inflammation.
• Protective - lymph nodes have special B cells that produce antibodies. They are responsible for developing protection against viruses and bacteria that attack our body daily. Also, the lymph node contains macrophages that attack pathogenic cells during the passage of lymph through the node.
• The cleansing function is the ability to retain harmful bacteria inside without spreading them throughout the body.

Causes of inflammation

Many diseases and inflammatory processes affect the lymph nodes, causing their inflammation. But the following diseases are considered the most common causes:

• HIV infection and AIDS suppress T-lymphocytes, which are involved in the body's immune defenses. With this ailment, inflamed nodes can be felt in the armpit, neck, neck.
• SARS and colds. With any virus, the body begins intensive work, so a temporary increase in lymph nodes is considered normal.
• Oncology - sometimes the detection of enlarged nodes becomes the first symptom of a formidable disease.
• Tuberculosis. Enlarged lymph nodes are observed in the lungs, back, throat and under the jaw. As the disease develops, the situation worsens, there is a compaction of formations and even their suppuration.
• Sexually transmitted diseases usually affect the inguinal lymph nodes. If you find dense balls in this area, then it may be worth checking with a venereologist.
• Lymphadenitis is an inflammation of the lymph nodes themselves, which occurs as a result of infection of the body with streptococci.

If you find yourself just a larger node, do not panic. A “problem” node is one that causes pain when pressed. Since internal lymph nodes cannot be probed, it is worth paying attention to the indirect reactions of the body:

• loss of appetite;
• temperature that does not fall for a long time;
• blood test, far from the norm;
• insomnia;
• chills.

If you find yourself with one or more of these symptoms, then you need to see a doctor for a full examination. But it is important to remember that enlarged lymph nodes only indirectly indicate inflammatory processes in the body, but they themselves are not a problem.

Lymph node enlargement prevention tips

In order to prevent an increase in lymph nodes, you need to follow a few simple preventive rules:

• treat all diseases on time, without starting them to a severe stage;
• observe the rules of personal hygiene to avoid suppuration and lymphadenitis;
• undergo medical examination.

These items directly affect our body. Indirectly increase immunity, and therefore reduce the load on the lymphatic system can exercise, proper nutrition and timely visits to the doctor.

Summary

The lymphatic system is one of the most important components of a healthy body. Each of its elements can act as a kind of "indicator" of inflammatory processes in the body. The very first to respond to the presence of foreign cells in the body are the lymph nodes. That is why it is so important to know the location of the lymph nodes on the human body. In the photo you can clearly see that they are next to the vital organs and arteries of the circulatory system. If you have enlarged lymph nodes, and at the same time have a fever or a number of other unpleasant symptoms, then you need to see a doctor to determine the cause. The location of the lymph nodes must be known to everyone, first of all, in order to be able to recognize and prevent many diseases.