[Applied anatomy of lymph drainage of lower lip mucosa]

The lymph drainage of lower lip mucosa was studied in 30 fresh cadavers of fetus and neonatus by submucosa injection of 30% Prussian blue of chloroform solution. The collecting lymphatics in lateral third of both the right and left sides of the lower lip mucosa ran laterally to the angles of the mouth, and then back- and downward between mandible and depressor muscle of angle of mouth, and finally, accompanying the facial vessels, emptied into submandibular lymph nodes. The efferent lymphatics of the latter emptied into angular lymph nodes and jugulo-omohyoid lymph nodes. The collecting lymphatics in the middle third of the lower lip mucosa went superficially to the mental muscle and downward into submental lymph nodes. The efferent lymphatic of the latter emptied, anteriorly to the body of the hyoid bone, latter- and downward into right and left jugulo-omohyoid lymph nodes. All collecting lymphatics lie in the loose connective tissue between the muscles.