Veins of the Lower Extremity USMLE, Limited Edition > Gross Anatomy > Gross Anatomy

Home , Femoral vein, Great saphenous vein, Popliteal vein

KEY POINTS:

Superficial veins

• Cephalic vein, laterally

• Basilic vein, medially

• Often visible through the skin

Deep veins

• Typically travel with, and share the names of, the major arteries.

• Often paired, meaning that, for example, two brachial veins travel side by side within the arm.

BRANCH DETAILS:

Deep veins

• Deep plantar venous arch

Drains into the posterior tibial vein

• Posterior tibial vein

Arises in the leg between the deep and superficial posterior muscular compartments.

• Fibular (aka, peroneal) vein

Arises laterally and rises to drain into the posterior tibial vein

• Dorsal pedal venous arch

Drains into the anterior tibial vein

• Anterior tibial vein

Ascends within the anterior compartment of the leg and wraps laterally around the proximal leg

• Popliteal vein

Formed by merger of anterior and posterior tibial veins in the posterior knee Ascends superficial to the popliteus muscle to become the femoral vein

1 / 2 • Femoral vein

Travels through the adductor hiatus, through antero-medial thigh to become external iliac vein after passing under inguinal ligament. Tributaries include:

- Circumflex veins

- Deep femoral vein

• External iliac vein

Converges with the internal iliac vein to form the common iliac vein

• Common iliac veins

Right and left sides merge to form inferior vena cava, which returns blood to the heart Superficial Veins

• Dorsal venous arch

Drains the superficial tissues of the foot

• Great saphenous vein

Ascends along the medial aspect of the lower extremity, then drains into the femoral vein in the proximal thigh To do so, the great saphenous vein dives deep to the fascia of the leg via the saphenous opening

• Small saphenous vein

Arises from the dorsal venous arch and wraps posteriorly; it ascends within the leg, and then drains into the popliteal vein at the knee Mnemonic: NAVL = the femoral Nerve, Artery, Vein, and Lymph nodes travel together within the femoral triangle of the anterior thigh

Clinical correlations:

• Thrombosis of the deep veins of the lower extremity. Pieces of clots in the lower extremity can travel through the systemic veins, pass through the heart, and become lodged in the pulmonary artery, with fatal consequences.

• Some authors refer to the femoral vein as the "superficial femoral vein," given that it lies relatively superficially in the groin; however, this terminology can be dangerously misleading if a clinician fails to recognize that the vein is part of the deep venous network and is dismissive of thrombosis of the "superficial femoral vein."