Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Practice Exam

What is the lymphatic drainage for the middle portion of the tongue?

1. Submandibular

2. Popliteal nodes

3. Axillary nodes

4. Deep cervical nodes

The correct answer is: Submandibular

The lymphatic drainage for the middle portion of the tongue primarily flows to the submandibular lymph nodes. This is significant because the tongue, being a muscular structure involved in various functions such as mastication, taste, and speech, has a complex lymphatic network. The submandibular nodes are responsible for draining lymphatic fluid from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, including its middle region. This drainage pathway is crucial for understanding how infections or tumors in the tongue can spread to these lymph nodes, which are often examined in clinical assessments. The connection between the submandibular region and the oral cavity also facilitates the management of conditions such as cancer, where sentinel lymph node biopsy may be performed. The other options do not relate anatomically to the drainage of the middle portion of the tongue. The popliteal nodes are associated with the drainage of the lower leg and foot, while the axillary nodes primarily drain the upper limb and part of the breast. The deep cervical nodes are involved in drainage from deeper structures in the neck and upper throat but do not specifically account for the middle portion of the tongue's drainage. Thus, the submandibular nodes are correctly identified as the primary lymphatic drainage site for this region of the