Lymph Vessels of the Fascia Lata

The lymph vessels of the fascia lata all travel to the femoral canal, and from there drain into the medial iliac lymph node, as well as to the deep inguinal lymph node, if present. The lymph vessels may take one of two routes to the femoral canal. From the lymph vessel networks on the fascia, 2 to 3 lymph vessels emerge from the caudal half of the fascia and usually travel caudally on the surface of the fascia, then penetrate both the fascia and the cranial border of the M. biceps in order to travel with the lymph vessels of this muscle, just above the M. gastrocnemius and between the M. adductor and M. semimembranosus via the caudal side of the femur to the femoral canal. Three to 5 lymph vessels emerge from the networks of the cranial half of the fascia and converge while travelling towards approximately the middle of the cranial thigh, merging to form at most 2 larger vessels. These vessels then penetrate the cranial belly of the M. sartorius and pass under the caudal belly of the same muscle  (i.e. over its lateral side) towards the femoral canal, where they join the other lymph vessels and drain with them into the medial iliac lymph node. If a deep inguinal lymph node is present, some of these lymph vessels also usually drain into it.