Where is the tonsillar lymph node located?

• A. In front of the ear
• B. At the angle of the mandible
• C. At the base of the skull posteriorly
• D. Superficial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle

Answer: (B)

The tonsillar lymph node is the jugulodigastric node, a deep cervical node. It sits just below the angle of the mandible along the internal jugular vein, where the posterior belly of the digastric muscle crosses. This location matches the drainage area for the tonsillar region, and this node is classically the most prominent one involved in tonsillitis. Other options point to different regional nodes (preauricular in front of the ear, superficial cervical along the sternocleidomastoid, or deeper posterior skull-area nodes), which is why the correct location is right beneath the angle of the mandible.