What Are Lymph Nodes in the Chest?
Lymph nodes in the chest include the axillary nodes, intercostal nodes, mediastinal nodes, bronchopulmanary nodes, thymus gland, and in women, mammary nodes. Innerbody explains that they are connected to each other and rest of the lymph system by right and left lymphatic ducts, the subclavian trunk and the bronchomediastinal trunk.
Lymph nodes in chest drain fluid from surrounding tissues, filter waste and pathogens from it and return it to the body. Axillary nodes in the armpit do this for the arms and shoulders. The intercostal and bronchopulmanry nodes do this for the lungs, and the mediastinal nodes for the trachea and area between the lungs. Mammary nodes do the same in the breast tissue. The thymus gland contains lymph and other tissues, and it plays an essential role in the body’s immune response.
