Lymph Vessels of the Pharynx

The lymph vessels of the pharynx (Figure 14) drain to the medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes (Figure 14: u). The lymph vessels of the pharyngeal mucosa form abundant networks in and under the mucosa. The lymph vessels emerging from these networks travel for long distances between the mucosa and the pharyngeal musculature, and then on the muscle, directly to the medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes, merging on the way to form 2 to 4 vessels. When they pass through the pharyngeal musculature, they do so mainly in the angle between the M. keratopharyngeus, M. thyropharyngeus, and M. hyothyroideus (Figure 14: 4, 4’, 4’’), as well as between the M. stylopharyngeus and M. keratopharyngeus.

The lymph vessels of the pharyngeal muscles join those of the mucous membranes, draining with them to the medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes (see also the laryngeal muscles).