Lymphatics of the female breast (English)

Left female breast from an anterior perspective with its lymphatic drainage displayed. Most of the lymph from the breast drains to the axillary lymph nodes. The main group of nodes in that region are the central axillary lymph nodes that receive lymph from the anterior (pectoral), posterior (subscapular) and lateral (brachial or humeral) axillary lymph nodes. The central axillary lymph nodes drain to the apical axillary lymph nodes, located superomedially. Efferent vessels from those nodes join together to form the subclavian lymph trunk(s). On the left side, this trunk may drain into the thoracic duct, however it more often empties independently at the left venous angle. The parasternal lymph nodes can also be seen along the left border of the sternum. Those nodes drain lymph mainly from the medial quadrants of the breast. Apart from the axillary and parasternal it is possible to see the paramammary lymph nodes lateral to the breast.