pretracheal lymph nodes pretracheal lymph nodes the pretracheal lymph nodes are lymph nodes located anterior to the trachea in the neck. pretracheal lymph nodes5. pretrachealdetailssystemlymphatic systemidentifierslatinnodi lymphoidei praetrachealesanatomical terminology structure the pretracheal lymph nodes lie anterior to the trachea. they follow the anterior jugular veins either side of the midline. they drain into the deep cervical lymph nodes on the right and the thoracic duct on the left.