Where is the superficial cervical lymph node located?

• A. Superficial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle
• B. Deep to the sternocleidomastoid muscle
• C. Along the anterior edge of the trapezius
• D. At the angle of the mandible

Answer: (A)

Superficial cervical lymph nodes sit in the superficial fascia of the neck, just above the sternocleidomastoid muscle, and commonly along the path of the external jugular vein. This shallow position means they are superficial to the muscle rather than beneath it. Deep cervical nodes, in contrast, lie deep to the muscle along the internal jugular vein. Regions near the anterior edge of the trapezius point to nodes in the posterior triangle that aren’t part of the superficial cervical group, and the angle of the mandible is where submandibular nodes reside. So the best description is that these nodes are superficial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle.