Which of the following is NOT among the seven lymph nodes of the head palpated?

• A. Occipital
• B. Posterior-auricular
• C. Tracheal
• D. Facial

Answer: (C)

When examining the head for swollen lymph nodes, you palpate the seven superficial groups that drain the scalp and face. These include the occipital nodes at the back of the head, the posterior auricular nodes behind the ear, the anterior (preauricular) nodes near the temples, the superficial parotid area in front of the ear, the facial nodes along the facial vessels, and the submandibular and submental nodes under the jaw and chin. The tracheal lymph nodes are not part of this head group—they lie along the trachea in the neck and belong to a deeper cervical chain. So, among the options, the tracheal nodes are not among the seven head palpated nodes, making that choice the correct one. The other options are indeed standard head-region lymph nodes.