Anterior axillary nodes

At a glance

English

Anterior axillary nodes

Latin (TA2)

Nodi axillares anteriores nodi pectorales

System

Lymphatic

Region

Trunk

Side

Paired, left and right

About the anterior axillary nodes

The anterior axillary nodes, also called the pectoral nodes, are one of the five groups of lymph nodes in the axilla. They lie on the medial wall of the armpit, along the lower edge of pectoralis minor, deep to the lateral border of pectoralis major. They follow the lateral thoracic artery and vein as those vessels run down the side of the chest wall over serratus anterior. There are usually four or five.

Their position at the front of the armpit means they are the first axillary nodes reached by lymph from the front of the chest. The other axillary groups are the lateral nodes along the axillary vein, the posterior nodes along the subscapular vessels, the central nodes in the fat in the middle of the axilla, and the apical nodes at its top beneath the clavicle.

Lymph comes to the anterior group from the skin and muscle of the front and side of the chest wall, from the upper part of the anterior abdominal wall above the umbilicus, and from the middle and outer parts of the breast. Their outflow passes to the central axillary nodes and to the apical nodes, and from there to the subclavian lymph trunk.

Most lymph from the breast passes through this group, so the pectoral nodes are usually the first to receive breast cancer that has spread, and a sentinel node found during breast surgery often lies here. They may also enlarge with infections of the chest wall or upper limb. The long thoracic nerve runs down nearby on serratus anterior and must be protected when the nodes are removed.

Course and drainage

Begins at

Afferent vessels from the skin and muscle of the front and side of the chest wall, the abdominal wall above the umbilicus, and the middle and outer parts of the breast.

Drains into

Efferent vessels pass to the central and apical axillary nodes.

Drains

Filters lymph from the front and side of the chest wall and most of the breast. Often holds the sentinel node in breast cancer; clearing it risks the long thoracic nerve.