Final answer:
The injection of anesthetic in a lateral popliteal sciatic nerve block (SNB) should occur below the bifurcation of the sciatic nerve to target both the tibial and fibular nerves.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a lateral popliteal sciatic nerve block (SNB), the injection of anesthetic should occur below the bifurcation of the sciatic nerve.
The sciatic nerve is a systemic nerve that originates from the sacral plexus and consists of two main branches: the tibial nerve and the fibular nerve. The bifurcation of the sciatic nerve happens above the knee joint, specifically at the level of the popliteal fossa.
To achieve a successful SNB, it is important to inject the anesthetic below the bifurcation to target both the tibial and fibular nerves and provide effective anesthesia to the posterior leg and foot.