Where are Lymph Nodes located? (What is Lymph Nodes?) Lymph nodes are round bean like structures (of which there are thousands throughout the human body) that are attached collectively to each other to form what is known as the lymphatic system which serves as a biological Filter by trapping and killing harmful foreign matters/ Cells including bacteria, virus or cancer cells that can develop into cancer. In a healthy person these Lymph Nodes resides at the ends of the tonsils and along the armpits.
But in a person with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Lymph Nodes can be found in the colon, rectum, vagina or in the thigh. For more than 30 years this was thought to be a primary symptom of IBS. Now it is known that Lymph Nodes is present outside of the lymph nodes, in the fat pad underneath the skin which is called a visceral fat pad. They are also found under the skin of the internal abdominal wall. In addition, Lymph Nodes can be found in the lungs, heart, spleen, liver, pancreas and kidneys.
How is Lymph Nodes found in areas of the body that are abnormal? Lymph Nodes is usually found in the groin, anteroposterior areas (where the inguinal crease and iliac crease intersect) and in the umbilical cord at the lower pole. In rare cases they are also found in the breast (periareolar). It is believed that abnormal lymph nodes may be associated with an increased risk for disease in some people such as: Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, bone marrow cancer, etc. Some people with IBS experience severe pain in the abdominal area.
How do swollen lymph nodes drain? When a person has an acute infection that involves obstruction of the lymph nodes in the neck or in a person with Crohn’s disease (intestinal disorder), the blocked vein becomes enlarged, making it difficult to empty the bladder or to pass urine. The enlarged vein then swells and causes a person to feel a lump under the skin in the neck. If this lump is left untreated, it can become a source of considerable discomfort.
Is it possible that enlarged lymph nodes can cause cancer? Lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in the lymph cells, which is also part of the immune system. Some types of cancer are considered ‘soft’ while others are ‘hard’ – this includes lymphoma, which does not include non-Hodgkins lymphoma. There have been cases in which lymphoma has been associated with the occurrence of ovarian cancer.
If an infection gets stuck in the blocked vein, it may remain there for some time without treatment. However, if the infection is due to swollen tonsils, tonsillitis or an abscess, treatment is often more effective. Sometimes surgery for the abscess will relieve the symptoms of swelling and infection caused by swollen tonsils or palatine tonsils. Another medical condition that sometimes interferes with drainage of the lymph nodes is adenoids. An adenoid is a glandular structure at the base of the palatine tonsils.
Lymph nodes are situated close to the spleen, which is the part of the digestive tract. The spleen manufactures bile, which is made from fats and other products. The blocked or narrowed vein in the neck or in the abdomen is called a venous embolism. This condition occurs when the embolism is caused by abnormal growth of lymphoid organ in the body. When this happens, the organ enlarges and forms a bulge just below the skin surface, usually on the right side.
Lymph nodes make up a major part of the immune system. They produce white blood cells known as antibodies. Lymph nodes also help by producing antibodies to fight infection. They are very important to our health. However, if we get sick often, we can have disorders in our immune system such as chronic infections or anemia.