Cervical lymph node groups

The cervical lymph node groups covers all the lymph nodes in the head and neck region. These named groups overlap with the cervical lymph node levels, which are numbered.

Gross anatomy

Groups described in the literature include but are not limited to the following:

• superficial lymph node groups of the head and neck junction (pericervical lymphoid ring) 
  • facial group
    • inferior maxillary (supramaxillary, supramandibular, inframandibular)
    • buccinator
    • infraorbital (nasolabial)
    • malar
  • parotid group
    • periparotid/preauricular
      • superficial extrafascial
      • subfascial extraglandular
    • deep intraglandular (intraparotid)
  • mastoid group (retroauricular/postauricular or posterior auricular)
  • occipital group
    • suprafascial
    • subfascial
    • deep
• retropharyngeal group
  • medial retropharyngeal
  • lateral retropharyngeal
    • node of Rouvière
• lymph node levels
  • level Ia: submental group
  • level Ib: submandibular group
  • levels II, III, and IV: deep cervical chain (or internal jugular chain)
  • level V: posterior triangle group (or spinal accessory group)
    • transverse cervical chain
  • level VI: anterior cervical group 
    • prelaryngeal chain
      • Delphian node
    • pretracheal chain 
    • paratracheal chain
• supraclavicular group