In lymphatic drainage of the breast, the major poion (about 75%) enters eventually into which group of nodes?
About 75% of the lymph draining the breast goes to the axillary lymph nodes, the pectoral lymph nodes. All of this lymph from the pectoral lymph nodes must drain to the central lymph nodes as well. This is why it is so impoant to examine all these groups of axillary lymph nodes when performing a breast exam. Most of the rest of the lymph drainage from the breast goes to the parasternal nodes, although a small amount goes to the opposite breast and a small amount drains to the abdominal wall. Ref: Moon D.A., Foreman K.B., Albeine K.H. (2011). Chapter 30. Shoulder and Axilla. In D.A. Moon, K.B. Foreman, K.H. Albeine (Eds), The Big Picture: Gross Anatomy.
Central axillary lymph nodes
Deltopectoral lymph nodes
Lateral axillary lymph nodes
Parasternal lymph nodes