![]() In this article, we shall examine the anatomy and clinical correlations of the major veins of the lower limb. They eventually drain into the deep veins. Superficial veins are found in the subcutaneous tissue.Deep veins are located underneath the deep fascia of the lower limb, accompanying the major arteries.They can be divided into two groups - deep and superficial : The veins of the lower limb drain deoxygenated blood and return it to the heart. Thermal ablation – heating the vein from inside (via radiofrequency or laser catheters), causing irreversible damage to the vein which closes it off.Foam sclerotherapy – injecting a sclerosing (irritating) agent directly into the varicosed veins, causing an inflammatory response that closes off the vein.Vein ligation, stripping, and avulsion – making an incision in the groin (or popliteal fossa) and identifying the responsible vein, before tying it off and stripping it away.Further complications can produce a brown pigmentation and ulceration of the surrounding tissue. This damages the cells, causing blood to extrude into skin. Due to the incompetence of the valves, the pressure in the venous system rises. There are various soft tissue changes that can occur with chronic varicose veins. This condition is known as varicose veins. This results in an increased intra-luminal pressure, which the veins cannot withstand, causing them to become dilated and tortuous. With the veins there are valves that prevent back flow of blood. If these valves become incompetent, blood can flow back into the superficial veins. It moves between the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscle and empties into the popliteal vein in the popliteal fossa.īy Jackerhack, from Wikimedia Commonsįig 1.2 – Varicose veins on the right leg. It moves up the posterior side of the leg, passing posteriorly to the lateral malleolus, along the lateral border of the calcaneal tendon. The small saphenous vein is formed by the dorsal venous arch of the foot, and the dorsal vein of the little toe. Surgically, the great saphenous vein can be harvested and used as a vessel in coronary artery bypasses. The great saphenous vein terminates by draining into the femoral vein immediately inferior to the inguinal ligament. The great saphenous vein is formed by the dorsal venous arch of the foot, and the dorsal vein of the great toe. It ascends up the medial side of the leg, passing anteriorly to the medial malleolus at the ankle, and posteriorly to the medial condyle at the knee.Īs the vein moves up the leg, it receives tributaries from other small superficial veins. There are two major superficial veins – the great saphenous vein, and the small saphenous vein. The superficial veins of the lower limb run in the subcutaneous tissue. These empty into the internal iliac vein. The gluteal region is drained by inferior and superior gluteal veins. The femoral vein leaves the thigh by running underneath the inguinal ligament, at which point it is known as the external iliac vein. It then empties into the distal section of the femoral vein. Via perforating veins, it drains blood from the thigh muscles. The deep vein of the thigh (profunda femoris vein) is the other main venous structure in the thigh. It is situated anteriorly, accompanying the femoral artery. Once the popliteal vein has entered the thigh, it is known as the femoral vein. The popliteal vein enters the thigh via the adductor canal. On the posterior surface of the knee, the anterior tibial, posterior tibial and fibular veins unite to form the popliteal vein. The posterior tibial vein accompanies the posterior tibial artery, entering the leg posteriorly to the medial malleolus. These veins combine to form the posterior tibial and fibular veins. On the plantar aspect of the foot, medial and lateral plantar veins arise. Some veins from the arch penetrate deep into the leg, forming the anterior tibial vein. The main venous structure of the foot is the dorsal venous arch, which mostly drains into the superficial veins. Often, the artery and vein are located within the same vascular sheath – so that the arterial pulsations aid the venous return. As a general rule, the deep veins accompany and share the name of the major arteries in the lower limb. The deep venous drainage system of the lower limb is located beneath the deep fascia of the lower limb.
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