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# Central axillary nodes

The central axillary nodes lie in the fat in the middle of the armpit; they collect lymph from the other axillary groups.

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## What it is

Nodes deep in the fat at the base of the armpit, behind pectoralis minor (level II).

## What it does

Collect lymph from the anterior, posterior and lateral groups and pass it to the apical nodes.

## Key points

- The intercostobrachial nerve crosses through them; it is often cut when they are removed, leaving numbness of the inner upper arm and armpit
- Usually the axillary nodes felt most easily on examination, pressed against the chest wall

## Key facts

**Where**
Axillary fat at the base of the axilla, behind pectoralis minor (level II)

**Drains**
Anterior, posterior and lateral axillary groups

**Into**
[Apical axillary nodes](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/apical-axillary-nodes/)

## Relations

**Course**
Lymph enters from the pectoral, subscapular and lateral groups and leaves upward toward the apical nodes along the [axillary vein](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/axillary-vein/)

**In front**
[Pectoralis minor](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/pectoralis-minor-muscle/) and, in front of it, [pectoralis major](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/pectoralis-major-muscle/)

**Medial**
The [chest](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/chest/) wall and [serratus anterior](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/serratus-anterior/), with the [long thoracic nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/long-thoracic-nerve/)

**Lateral**
The axillary vein and artery, with the [lateral axillary nodes](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lateral-axillary-nodes/) along the vein

**Below**
The axillary fascia and the [skin](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/skin/) of the armpit

## How to find it

The examiner supports the person's forearm, slides the cupped fingers high into the axilla and presses its contents against the chest wall, then draws the fingers down; enlarged central nodes roll under them.

## Common problems

- The axillary nodes most often felt when enlarged, pressed against the chest wall.
- Large nodes here can press on the intercostobrachial nerve and cause pain in the inner arm.

## 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

- Often the first palpable axillary nodes in breast cancer, lymphoma and arm or chest infections
- Injury to the intercostobrachial nerve during their removal causes numbness or burning pain of the inner arm and axilla, part of post-mastectomy pain
- A suppurating node here (axillary abscess) is told apart from hidradenitis suppurativa, which involves the sweat glands of the skin

## Related conditions

- [Breast cancer](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/breast-cancer/)

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Which axillary groups drain into the central nodes?

The anterior (pectoral), posterior (subscapular) and lateral (humeral) groups; the central nodes then drain to the apical group.

## Which nerve passes through the central axillary nodes and what follows its injury?

The intercostobrachial nerve; injury leaves numbness or pain of the inner upper arm and axilla.

## Which surgical level do the central axillary nodes usually belong to?

Level II, behind pectoralis minor (some texts: level I).

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Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

## Its names

**Official Latin (TA2)**
nodi axillares centrales TA2 5238

**Official Spanish (DeCS)**
Nódulos linfáticos axilares centrales

**English (TA2)**
Central axillary nodes

## Related

- [Apical axillary nodes](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/apical-axillary-nodes/)

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](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559188/).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/central-axillary-nodes/