Lymph Vessels of the Joints of the Pelvic Limb

The lymph vessels of the hip joint (Figure 37: a, a’) and stifle joint (Figures 34: 1, 2; 37: b, c) drain to the medial iliac lymph node (Figure 37: g), those of the toe joints (Figure 34: 5-8) drain to the popliteal lymph node (Figure 34: a), and those of the tarsal joint (Figures 34: 3, 4 and 37: d, d’) drain to both lymph node groups (Figures 34: a; 37: g). If a deep inguinal lymph node (Figure 37: f) is present, some of the lymph vessels from the hip, stifle, and tarsal joints that would otherwise drain directly to the medial iliac lymph node in the absence of a deep inguinal lymph node, then drain into it. Likewise, if a medial femoral lymph node (Figure 37: e) is present, some of the lymph vessels of the stifle and tarsal joints drain to it. Nonetheless, even if this lymph node is present, the lymph vessels may not drain to it.