Lymphatic drainage of the upper limb
Last revised by Maulik S Patel
on 22 Jan 2022
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Patel M, Bell D, et al. Lymphatic drainage of the upper limb. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 07 Dec 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-29756
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rID:
29756
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Last revised:
22 Jan 2022,
Maulik S Patel
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Maulik S Patel had no recorded disclosures.
View Maulik S Patel's current disclosures
Revisions:
6 times, by
5 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Tags:
Synonyms:
- Supratrochlear lymph nodes
- Cubital lymph nodes
- Brachial lymph nodes
- Deltopectoral lymph node
- Epitrochlear lymph nodes
Lymphatic drainage of the upper limb is via a series of deep and superficial channels that ultimately drain into the axillary lymph nodes.
Gross anatomy
Lymph from the hand and forearm drain from lymphatic plexuses via superficial channels that accompany the basilic and cephalic veins to a series of nodes around the elbow:
- superficial and deep cubital lymph nodes
-
epi/supratrochlear lymph node(s)
- one-to-five nodes lying medial to the brachial vein, just superior to the medial epicondyle of the humerus
There are also deep channels that accompany the arteries and drain via the occasional deep lymph node accompanying arteries in the forearm to the axillary nodes.
Lymph then drains up the arm, passing through a few deep brachial lymph nodes and deltopectoral lymph node(s) with the cephalic vein at the deltopectoral groove, before draining into:
- infraclavicular lymph nodes: predominantly lateral upper limb and lateral two digits
- axillary lymph nodes: predominantly medial upper limb and medial three digits
References
- 1. Fritsch H, Kuehnel W, Fritsch H. Color Atlas of Human Anatomy, Volume 2: Internal Organs. Thieme Medical Publishers. ISBN:3135334058. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Anatomy of Upper Limb and Thorax (English) 1st Edition. Elsevier. ISBN:8131211576. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Doyle JR, Botte MJ. Surgical Anatomy of the Hand and Upper Extremity. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (2003) ISBN:0397517254. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
Incoming Links
Related articles: Anatomy: Upper limb
-
skeleton of the upper limb
- clavicle
- scapula
- humerus
- radius
- ulna
- hand
- accessory ossicles of the upper limb
- accessory ossicles of the shoulder
- accessory ossicles of the elbow
-
accessory ossicles of the wrist (mnemonic)
- os centrale carpi
- os epilunate
- os epitriquetrum
- os styloideum
- os hamuli proprium
- lunula
- os triangulare
- trapezium secondarium
- os paratrapezium
- os radiostyloideum (persistent radial styloid)
- joints of the upper limb
-
pectoral girdle
-
shoulder joint
- articulations
- associated structures
- joint capsule
- bursae
- ligaments
- movements
- scapulothoracic joint
-
glenohumeral joint
- arm flexion
- arm extension
- arm abduction
- arm adduction
- arm internal rotation (medial rotation)
- arm external rotation (lateral rotation)
- circumduction
- arterial supply - scapular anastomosis
- ossification centers
-
shoulder joint
-
elbow joint
- proximal radioulnar joint
- ligaments
- associated structures
- movements
- alignment
- arterial supply - elbow anastomosis
- development
-
wrist joint
- articulations
-
ligaments
- intrinsic ligaments
- extrinsic ligaments
- radioscaphoid ligament
- dorsal intercarpal ligament
- dorsal radiotriquetral ligament
- dorsal radioulnar ligament
- volar radioulnar ligament
- radioscaphocapitate ligament
- long radiolunate ligament
- Vickers ligament
- short radiolunate ligament
- ulnolunate ligament
- ulnotriquetral ligament
- ulnocapitate ligament
- ulnar collateral ligament
- associated structures
- extensor retinaculum
- flexor retinaculum
- joint capsule
- movements
- alignment
- ossification centers
-
hand joints
- articulations
- carpometacarpal joint
-
metacarpophalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
- collateral ligament
-
interphalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
- collateral ligament
- movements
- ossification centers
- articulations
-
pectoral girdle
- spaces of the upper limb
- muscles of the upper limb
- shoulder girdle
- anterior compartment of the arm
- posterior compartment of the arm
-
anterior compartment of the forearm
- superficial
- intermediate
- deep
-
posterior compartment of the forearm (extensors)
- superficial
- deep
- muscles of the hand
-
accessory muscles
- elbow
- volar wrist midline
- palmaris longus profundus
- aberrant palmaris longus
- volar wrist radial-side
- accessory flexor digitorum superficialis indicis
- flexor indicis profundus
- flexor carpi radialis vel profundus
- accessory head of the flexor pollicis longus (Gantzer muscle, common)
- volar wrist ulnar-side
- dorsal wrist
- blood supply to the upper limb
-
arteries
- subclavian artery (mnemonic)
- axillary artery
- brachial artery (proximal portion)
- ulnar artery
- radial artery
- veins
-
arteries
- innervation of the upper limb
- intercostobrachial nerve
-
brachial plexus (mnemonic)
- branches from the roots
- branches from the trunks
- branches from the cords
- lateral cord
- posterior cord
- medial cord
- terminal branches
- lymphatic drainage of the upper limb
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