Veins of
the Lower Limb
Advertisements help pay for this website. Thank you for
your support.
Arteries
of lower limb | Anatomy contents
page | Nerves of lower limb
Last updated 30 March 2006
Veins of the Lower Limb
The
Femoral Canal (p. 405)
Click here to go to
the Femoral Sheath.
- This short, conical medial compartment of the femoral
sheath lies between the medial edge of the sheath and the
femoral vein.
- The space allows for the femoral vein to expand during
times of increased venous return from the lower limb.
- It contains a few lymph vessels, sometimes a deep
inguinal lymph node, loose connective tissue, and fat.
- It is also the route by which the efferent lymph vessels
from the deep inguinal lymph nodes pass to the external
iliac lymph nodes.
- The canal is widest at its
abdominal end, the femoral
ring, and extends distally to the level of the
proximal end of the saphenous ring.
The
Femoral Vein (p. 399)
- This large thigh vein ends posterior to the inguinal
ligament, where it becomes the
external iliac vein.
- It leaves the femoral triangle a
little medial to the midinguinal point and the femoral
artery.
- In the inferior part of this triangle, the femoral vein
lies deep to the femoral artery.
- Within the femoral triangle, the femoral vein receives
the profunda femoris and the great saphenous veins and
other tributaries.
The Femoral Vein in the Adductor Canal (p.
407)
Click here to go to the Adductor
Canal.
- The femoral vessels enter the adductor canal where the
sartorius muscle crosses over the adductor longus muscle,
the vein lying posterior to the artery.
- The femoral artery and vein leave
the adductor canal through the tendinous opening in the
adductor magnus muscle, known as the adductor
hiatus.
- As soon as the femoral vessels enter the popliteal fossa,
they are called the popliteal vessels.
The
Popliteal Vein (p. 429)
- This vessel is formed at the distal border of the
popliteus muscle by the union of
the venae comitantes of the anterior and posterior tibial
arteries.
- As it ascends through the popliteal fossa, the popliteal
vein crosses from the medial to the lateral side of the
popliteal artery.
- Throughout its course, it lies superficial to and in the
same fibrous sheath as the popliteal artery.
- The popliteal vein ends at the adductor hiatus where it
becomes the femoral vein.
- The small saphenous vein
pierces the roof of the popliteal fossa and drains into
the popliteal vein. The other tributaries of the
popliteal vein correspond with the branches of the
popliteal artery.
The
Small Saphenous Vein (p. 381)
- This lateral superficial vein begins
posterior to the lateral malleolus.
- It is formed by the union of veins arising from the
lateral part of the dorsal venous arch, the dorsum of the
fifth digit (little toe), and the lateral edge of the
foot and sole.
- The small (short) saphenous vein passes along the lateral
side of the foot with the sural
nerve and ascends along the lateral side of
the tendo calcaneus.
- This vein passes on the deep fascia between the two heads
of the gastrocnemius muscle to the popliteal
fossa.
- It has several communications with the great saphenous
vein on the medial side of the leg.
- Before piercing the popliteal fascia just inferior to the
knee flexion crease, the small saphenous vein frequently
gives off a branch that unites with another vein to form
the accessory saphenous vein.
- When present, this vein becomes the main communication
between the great and small saphenous veins.
- The small saphenous vein has several valves.
The Small Saphenous Vein in the Popliteal
Fossa (pp. 381-2, 429)
- In the popliteal fossa, the small saphenous vein usually
perforates the deep popliteal fascia and usually ends in
the popliteal vein.
- Sometimes, it ends in the great saphenous vein or in one
of the superior gluteal veins.
The
Great Saphenous Vein (pp. 379-81)
- This is the largest vein and the longest in the body.
- It ascends from the foot to the groin in the subcutaneous
connective tissue.
- The great (long) saphenous vein begins at the medial end of the dorsal venous arch of
the foot and passes anterior to the
medial malleolus of the tibia, where it is
accompanied by the saphenous nerve.
- It then ascends obliquely across the inferior third of
the tibia to the medial aspect of the knee.
- Here it lies superficial to the medial epicondyle, about
a hands-breath or 10 cm posterior to the medial border of
the patella.
- From here, it ascends superolaterally to the saphenous opening in the deep
fascia and enters the femoral vein.