Lymph drainage of the major joints of the porcine forelimb.

The lymph drainage of the major joints of the porcine forelimb was subjected to a critical examination. Commercial India ink was injected into the left elbow joint and right shoulder joint of an experimental pig. The shoulder joint was approached craniolaterally, the injection site being at the cranial border of the tendon of insertion of the infraspinatus muscle. The elbow joint was approached from the dorsolateral aspect. A suitable site for intra-articular injection into the elbow joint was found to be within an imaginary triangle formed caudal to the lateral epicondyloid crest of the humerus, the ventral border of the lateral head of the M. triceps brachii, and a line just dorsal to the olecranon. The lymph nodes of the neck and shoulder region were carefully exposed and examined for any discoloration due to the ink. The dissection of the lymph vessels and lymph nodes showed that the Lnn, axillares primae costae drained the elbow and shoulder joint after the intra-articular injection of India ink.