Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Practice Exam

What lymphatic drainage area corresponds to the tip of the tongue?

1. Submental

2. Submandibular

3. Deep cervical

4. Anterior cervical

The correct answer is: Submental

The correct association for the lymphatic drainage area corresponding to the tip of the tongue is indeed the submental region. The tip of the tongue drains primarily into the submental lymph nodes, which are located beneath the chin and receive lymph from the anterior parts of the floor of the mouth and the tip of the tongue. This anatomical relationship is significant for understanding the pathways of metastasis for various oral lesions and ensuring appropriate management of oral cancers or infections. In contrast, the submandibular lymph nodes are generally responsible for collecting lymph from the more lateral aspects of the tongue and the submandibular glands but not specifically from the tip. The deep cervical lymph nodes primarily receive lymph from the deeper structures of the neck and posterior parts of the tongue, while the anterior cervical nodes tend to drain from the anterior aspects of the neck, including the trachea and thyroid gland, rather than from the tip of the tongue. Understanding these drainage patterns is crucial for clinical practice in fields such as surgery, oncology, and pathology.