First lymph nodes to drain different regions of the tongue:

• Poster third of tongue = Superior Deep Cervical nodes
• Tip of tongue = Submental nodes
• Lateral anterior two-thirds of tongue (not including tip) = Submandibular nodes
• Medial anterior two-thirds of tongue (not including tip) = Inferior Deep Cervical nodes

Many oral cavity lesions, especially anteriorly such as the tip of the tongue, drain first to submental nodes (level 1). Oropharyngeal SCCs most commonly drain to level 2.