A young patient develops painful right popliteal lymphadenopathy following a dog bite to the right foot. The popliteal lymph nodes receive lymph from:

• A Medial side of the foot and leg along the great saphenous vein
• B Entire foot draining via the dorsalis pedis vessels
• C Lateral side of the foot and leg along the small saphenous vein ✓
• D Lateral thigh and gluteal region

Explanation

Popliteal lymph nodes receive afferents from: the lateral aspect of the foot and leg accompanying the small (short) saphenous vein, and deep lymphatics of the leg. The medial foot and leg lymphatics accompany the great saphenous vein to drain directly into superficial inguinal lymph nodes. This is why bites to the lateral foot/heel may cause popliteal adenopathy, while medial foot infections typically cause inguinal adenopathy.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.