The deep cervical chain lymph node is located deep to which muscle?

• A. Sternocleidomastoid muscle
• B. Trapezius muscle
• C. Platysma
• D. Masseter muscle

Answer: (A)

The deep cervical lymph nodes run along the internal jugular vein in the neck and sit in the deep neck compartments. They are located deep to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which forms the superficial boundary of that deep region. This relationship makes SCM the key landmark for the deep cervical chain during exam or dissection. The other muscles don’t overlie these nodes: platysma lies in the superficial fascia above them, trapezius forms the posterior boundary of the neck’s posterior triangle, and the masseter is a facial muscle near the jaw, far from the deep cervical chain's position.