Submental lymph nodes

The submental lymph nodes (or suprahyoid lymph nodes) are 2-3 lymph nodes situated in the submental triangle, between the anterior bellies of the digastric muscle and the hyoid bone.

Anatomy
The submental lymph nodes are situated in the submental fascial space. They are situated close to the midline. They are immediately superficial to the mylohyoid muscle.

Afferents
They drain the lower lip, floor of the mouth, apex of the tongue, chin, and inferior/mandibular incisor teeth and their associated periodontium and gingiva.

Efferents
They drain either to submandibular lymph nodes (which then drain to deep cervical lymph nodes), or to the deep cervical lymph nodes directly.

Clinical significance
The most common cause of enlargement of the submental lymph nodes are infections (including viral infections (mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and cytomegaloviral infections), toxoplasmosis, and dental infections (e.g. periodontitis)).

The lymph nodes may be affected by metastatic spread from cancers of their drained territories.