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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Collection and Processing of Lymph Nodes from Large Animals for RNA Analysis: Preparing for Lymph Node Transcriptomic Studies of Large Animal Species
Published on: May 19, 2018
The buccal lymph node (lymphonodus buccalis) in dogs: occurrence, anatomical location, histological characteristics
Christophe R Casteleyn1, Maartje van der Steen, Jan Declercq
1Department of Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, Belgium. Christophe.Casteleyn@Ugent.be
Abstract:
Three dogs were presented for clinical examination with bilateral buccal nodules which were identified as enlarged buccal lymph nodes. As little is known about this pathology, 150 dogs were examined by anatomical dissection for the presence of buccal lymph nodes. They were found in 13 dogs, occurring bilaterally in six dogs and unilaterally in seven dogs. Two buccal lymph nodes were bilobulated and one was double. The lymph nodes were always located dorsal to the zygomatic muscle and rostral to the masseter muscle in the region where the superior labial vein drains into the facial vein. Histology demonstrated a large amount of intranodal adipose tissue scattered throughout the lymphoid tissue. The canine buccal lymph node should not be confused with the accessory parotid or ventral buccal salivary gland and is clinically important as it can enlarge due to tumour metastasis or inflammation of the buccal region.
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