Anterior axillary nodes !
The anterior (pectoral) axillary nodes lie on the chest wall at the front of the armpit; they are the first stop for most lymph from the breast.
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What it is
Nodes along the lower edge of pectoralis minor, beside the lateral thoracic vessels (level I).
What it does
Filter lymph from most of the breast and the front of the chest wall, then pass it to the central nodes.
Key facts
- Where
- Along the lower border of pectoralis minor with the lateral thoracic vessels (level I)
- Drains
- Most of the breast; anterior chest wall; upper anterior abdominal wall above the umbilicus
- Into
- Central and apical axillary nodes
Relations
- Course
- Afferents from the breast and the front of the chest wall reach them around the lower border of pectoralis major; their efferents run up to the central and apical axillary nodes
- In front
- Pectoralis major and the lower border of pectoralis minor, which form the anterior axillary fold
- Medial
- Serratus anterior and the ribs on the medial wall of the axilla; the long thoracic nerve runs down on the muscle just behind them
- Lateral
- The fat of the axilla with the central axillary nodes; the axillary tail of the breast reaches up toward them
How to find it
With the arm relaxed and supported by the examiner, the fingers press the medial (chest) wall of the axilla just behind the anterior axillary fold and slide down over the ribs; an enlarged node rolls under the fingers against the chest wall.
Common problems
- Usually the first nodes a breast cancer reaches; the sentinel node is most often here.
How it is diagnosed
Examination of the armpit and ultrasound with a needle biopsy; in breast cancer, the sentinel node is found with a tracer during surgery.
Treatment
- Sentinel node biopsy: only the first one to three nodes are removed and checked.
- Axillary dissection (levels I–II) or radiotherapy when the nodes contain cancer; arm swelling (lymphoedema) is the main risk.
Clinical notes
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy usually removes one to three nodes of this group, marked by a tracer injected near the tumour or the areola
- They enlarge with breast infection (mastitis, abscess) and with breast cancer; a hard, fixed or matted node suggests metastasis
- Removing them works close to the long thoracic nerve and the lateral thoracic vessels; injury to the nerve causes a winged scapula
- Part of the breast's lymph bypasses this group and goes to the interpectoral, apical or parasternal nodes
Related conditions
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Along which vessels and on which muscle do the anterior axillary nodes lie?
Along the lateral thoracic vessels on serratus anterior, at the lower border of pectoralis minor (level I).
Which axillary group receives most of the lymph from the breast?
The anterior (pectoral) group; the sentinel node of a breast cancer is usually one of these nodes.
Which nerve runs close to the anterior axillary nodes and what does its injury cause?
The long thoracic nerve on serratus anterior; its injury causes a winged scapula.
Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.
Its names
- Official Latin (TA2)
- nodi axillares anteriores; nodi pectorales TA2 5241
- Official Spanish (DeCS)
- Nódulos linfáticos axilares anteriores
- English (TA2)
- Anterior axillary nodes
- Also called
- pectoral nodes · pectoral axillary nodes
Related
Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); Anatomía humana (4.ª ed.), tomo 1, cap. 61: Vasos y ganglios linfáticos del miembro superior; Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Axillary Lymph Nodes; Tratado de anatomía humana (9.ª ed.), tomo II, Libro IV Angiología, sección 5: Linfáticos.
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.