[Anatomo-topographic features of parasternal lymph nodes in adult humans]

The parasternal lymph nodes have been revealed in corpses of person died at the age 22-85 years by the method of preparation after Gerota's blue had been interstitially injected into the tissue of the mammary gland, the diaphragm, the diaphragmal surface of the liver, the pleura and the pericardium. The mass has also been injected into the lymph nodes and vessels revealed by means of the interstitial injection. Most of the parasternal lymph nodes are situated in interposal places, their number varying from 2 to 20 in the parasternal lymphatic chain. At the level of the costal cartilage they are found much more seldom. Maximal number of the parasternal lymph nodes situating behind one costal cartilage is 4. Behind the IV and the V costal cartilage, left to the sternum no lymph nodes have been revealed. The most removed from the sternal edge, the lymph nods in the V and the VI intercostal spaces, both to the left and to the right have been found. As to the position of blood vessels, the lymph nodes occur mostly medially and laterally but not anterior or posterior to them or between them. The size of the lymph nodes varies from 1 to 25 mm.