Jugular trunk
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Bell D, Hacking C, Feger J, Jugular trunk. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 19 Jan 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-74104
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rID:
74104
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Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures
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Systems:
Sections:
Tags:
Synonyms:
- Jugular trunks
- Jugular lymph trunk
- Jugular lymphatic trunk
- Left jugular trunk
- Right jugular trunk
- Truncus jugularis
- Trunci jugularis
The jugular trunks (TA: truncus jugularis) are small short paired lymphatic trunks, each one draining one side of the head and neck, forming an important terminal part of the lymphatic system 1-3.
Gross anatomy
Location
- the left and right jugular trunks are found in the root of the neck
Origin
- the organs of the head and neck (e.g. thyroid, salivary glands, etc.) drain into local nodes, which eventually drain into the deep cervical nodes
- the efferent lymphatics of the superior deep cervical nodes pass either into the inferior deep cervical nodes, or bypass them to form the nascent jugular trunk which then also drains the efferent lymphatics from the inferior nodal group
- the trunks run parallel to the inferior internal jugular vein
Termination
- the left jugular trunk terminates in the thoracic duct
- the right jugular trunk terminates either:
- in the junction between the subclavian and brachiocephalic veins (so-called right venous angle), or
- in the right lymphatic duct
Variant anatomy
The jugular trunks, like other parts of the lymphatic system show a wide spectrum of anatomic variance, and may also drain directly into the central major veins instead of the lymphatic ducts, including the brachiocephalic, subclavian and internal jugular veins (often at the venous angle).
References
- 1. Chummy S. Sinnatamby. Last's Anatomy. (2011) ISBN: 9780702033940 - Google Books
- 2. Gray, H. Anatomy of the Human Body. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1918; Bartleby.com, 2000. www.bartleby.com/107/
- 3. FIPAT. Terminologia Anatomica. 2nd Ed. FIPAT.library.dal.ca. Federative International Programme for Anatomical Terminology, 2019. https://fipat.library.dal.ca/TA2/
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