Organ
Popliteal lymph nodes
Lymph nodes accompanying the vessels behind the knee
High-yield
A posterolateral superficial route can carry lymph from the heel and calf to popliteal nodes. Skin drainage varies, however: a lesion below the knee may drain to inguinal nodes, popliteal nodes or both.
Overview
Popliteal nodes sit in the fatty tissue behind the knee. They receive lymph from deep leg structures and from some superficial channels along the small saphenous vein, then pass lymph upward through thigh pathways toward the groin.
Reference facts
- Location
- Embedded in fat within the popliteal fossa, near the popliteal vessels and fascia
- Parts
- Several variably distributed nodes, including a more superficial node near the small saphenous route and deeper nodes beside the main vessels
- Drains from
- Deep leg and knee tissues through channels accompanying the vascular bundles, plus portions of the posterolateral superficial leg and foot
- Venous/Lymphatic drainage
- Mainly ascend beside the femoral vessels toward deep inguinal nodes, with additional connections to superficial inguinal pathways
- Function
- Filter regional lymph and support immune responses along drainage routes from the knee, leg and foot
Clinical correlation
Some lower-leg and foot melanomas drain to a popliteal sentinel node as well as to the groin. Lymphatic mapping can identify these individual routes; the location of a skin lesion does not by itself predict every involved nodal basin.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the popliteal lymph nodes located?
The popliteal lymph nodes lie embedded in fat within the popliteal fossa, near the popliteal vessels and fascia.
What do the popliteal lymph nodes do?
Filter regional lymph and support immune responses along drainage routes from the knee, leg and foot.
What are the parts of the popliteal lymph nodes?
Several variably distributed nodes, including a more superficial node near the small saphenous route and deeper nodes beside the main vessels.
How do the popliteal lymph nodes drain?
Mainly ascend beside the femoral vessels toward deep inguinal nodes, with additional connections to superficial inguinal pathways.