Lymph Vessels of the Antebrachial Fascia
The lymph vessels of the antebrachial fascia mostly drain to the axillary lymph node, though minimal drainage to the superficial cervical lymph nodes may also be present. The lymph vessels of the fascia that drain to the latter lymph nodes originate from the fascia that covers the dorsolateral side of the antebrachium near the elbow joint. The vessels then curve towards the cephalic vein and travel with it to one of the ventral superficial cervical lymph nodes. All the other lymph vessels of the antebrachial fascia drain to the axillary lymph node. The lymph vessels of the fascia covering the muscles on the caudal side of the antebrachial bones (fascia antebrachia volaris) behave as follows:
a. medial antebrachial fascia
The small lymph vessels arising from the lymphatic network of the fascia antebrachii volaris curve away from the medial part of the fascia, some towards the radial artery (those from the middle part of this section of fascia), some towards the ulnar artery (those from the distal part of this section of fascia), and some accompany the median artery to the elbow joint. Near the latter, they are joined by the lymph vessels which originate from the proximal part of the fascia antebrachii volaris and which either pass between the M. pronator teres and the M. flexor carpi radialis, or directly through the latter to the median artery. One lymph vessel draining this section of fascia tends to curve over the caudomedial side of the elbow joint towards the brachium and its blood vessels.
b. lateral antebrachial fascia
The lymph vessels developing from the lateral part of the fascia antebrachii volaris emerge from the proximal and middle part of this section of fascia, some through the antebrachial interosseous space, and some between the M. flexor carpi ulnaris and the humeral head of the M. flexor digitalis profundus on one side, and the ulnar head of the M. flexor digitalis profundus on the other. These lymph vessels travel more deeply over the medial side of the radius and ulna, cranially towards the median artery, joining the lymph vessels emerging from the antebrachial interosseous space. From the distal part of this section of fascia, the lymph vessels run more deeply between the tendons of the M. extensor carpi ulnaris and M. flexor carpi ulnaris and, from here, either ascend in the interosseous space or travel over the caudomedial side of the radius to join the lymph vessels from the distal part of the medial section of the fascia antebrachii volaris (see section A above). Almost all the lymph vessels of the antebrachial fascia meet near the elbow joint in the vicinity of the median artery, proceeding to accompany the artery and the blood vessels of the brachium as 2 or 3 trunks, and joining the lymph vessels coming from the caudomedial side of the elbow joint (see above), finally terminating by draining into the axillary lymph node.
