Thoracic lymph node
Thoracic lymph nodes are a group of lymph nodes located in the thoracic cavity. They play a crucial role in the immune system, acting as filters for harmful substances and are involved in the immune response.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The thoracic lymph nodes are divided into several groups, including the parasternal lymph nodes, intercostal lymph nodes, and mediastinal lymph nodes. Each group is located in a different part of the thoracic cavity and drains different regions of the body.
Parasternal lymph nodes[edit | edit source]
The parasternal lymph nodes are located along the sternum. They receive lymph from the mammary glands, thoracic wall, and abdominal wall.
Intercostal lymph nodes[edit | edit source]
The intercostal lymph nodes are located between the ribs. They receive lymph from the back, chest, and abdominal wall.
Mediastinal lymph nodes[edit | edit source]
The mediastinal lymph nodes are located in the mediastinum, the space between the lungs. They receive lymph from the heart, lungs, and esophagus.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of the thoracic lymph nodes is to filter lymph, a clear fluid that contains white blood cells, before it returns to the bloodstream. This process helps to remove harmful substances, such as bacteria and cancer cells, from the body.
In addition, the thoracic lymph nodes are involved in the immune response. When the body is infected, the lymph nodes produce more white blood cells to fight off the infection. They also produce antibodies, proteins that bind to foreign substances and help to neutralize them.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Diseases of the thoracic lymph nodes include lymphadenopathy, lymphoma, and metastasis. In lymphadenopathy, the lymph nodes become enlarged due to infection or inflammation. In lymphoma, a type of cancer, the lymph nodes become malignant. In metastasis, cancer cells from other parts of the body spread to the lymph nodes.
 | This anatomy article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
 | This Immune system-related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
```
This template is designed to be used at the bottom of articles that are stubs related to the Immune system. It categorizes articles into the "Immune system stubs" category for easy tracking and improvement.
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
