Describing the beginning, termination, Tributaries, and Clinical importance of superficial and deep veins of the lower extremities

1. Main Veins of The Lower Limb
Bilal Sami Al-Mosheqah

2. Learning Objectives
Main veins of the lower extremities
Clinical important superficial veins of the lower extremities
Tributaries
beginning and termination

3. Main veins of the lower extremities
Superficial veins
Deep veins
Great saphenous vein (long saphenous vein))
Small saphenous vein (short saphenous vein)
In the subcutaneous tissue and run independent from named arteries
Deep to (beneath) the deep fascia and accompany all major arteries
 Superficial and deep veins have valves, which are more numerous in deep veins
Perforating veins Perforating veins connect the superficial with the deep veins
o Anterior tibial veins
o Posterior tibial veins
o Fibular veins o Popliteal vein
o Femoral vein

4. SUPERFICIAL VEINS OF LOWER LIMB
Great saphenous vein
(long saphenous vein)
Small saphenous vein
(short saphenous vein)
Most of their tributaries are unnamed
Dorsal venous arch

5. Great saphenous vein
In the dorsum of foot Formed by the union of the dorsal vein of
the great toe and the dorsal venous arch of the foot
Beginning
Longest vein in the body 80 cm

6. Great saphenous vein
o Ascends anterior to the medial malleolus.
o Passes posterior to the medial condyle of the femur
o Traverses the saphenous opening in the deep fascia
o Empties into the femoral vein 3 cm below the
inguinal ligamt

7. Great saphenous vein
 Superficial circumflex iliac vein
 Superficial epigastric vein
 Superficial external pudendal vein
These veins correspond with the three branches of the femoral artery found
in this region
Tributaries

8. SUPERFICIAL VEINS OF LOWER LIMB
Great saphenous vein
(long saphenous vein)
Small saphenous vein
(short saphenous vein)
Most of their tributaries are unnamed
Dorsal venous arch

9. Small saphenous vein
Arises on the lateral side of the foot from the union of the
dorsal vein of the little toe with the dorsal venous arch
Beginning

10. Small saphenous vein
o Ascends posterior to the lateral malleolus
o Passes along the lateral border of the calcaneal tendon.
o Inclines to the midline of the fibula and penetrates the deep fascia.
o Ascends between the heads of the gastrocnemius muscle.
o Empties into the popliteal vein in the popliteal fossa.
Termination of the small saphenous vein is subject to variation !

11. Small saphenous vein
 Numerous small veins from the back of the leg
 Communicating veins with the deep veins of the foot
 Important anastomotic branches that run upward and
medially and join the great saphenous vein
 Lateral marginal vein
Tributaries

12. Perforating veins

13. Deep veins of lower limb
Femoral Popliteal Vena commitans
o Anterior tibial veins
o Posterior tibial veins
o Fibular veins

14. Femoral vein
beginning
Termination
It is the continuation of the popliteal vein at opening in adductor magnus muscle
It ends by becoming the external iliac vein after passing to the inguinal ligament
 the great saphenous vein
 veins that correspond to the branches of the femoral artery
 Deep external pudendal
 Profunda femoris vein (circumflex femoral)
The superficial circumflex iliac vein, the superficial epigastric
vein, and the external pudendal veins drain into the great
saphenous vein.
Tributaries

15. Formed by the junction of the venae comitantes of the
anterior and posterior tibial arteries at the lower border of the
popliteus muscle on the medial side of the popliteal artery
 It ascends through the fossa crosses behind the popliteal
artery so that it comes to lie on its lateral side
 Passes through the opening in the adductor magnus to
become the femoral vein
Popliteal vein
beginning
termination
 Veins that correspond to branches given off by the
popliteal artery
 Small saphenous vein.
Tributaries

16. o Anterior tibial veins
o Posterior tibial veins
o Fibular veins
o Anterior tibial veins
o Posterior tibial veins
o Fibular veins
Popliteal vein

17. Clinical importantance superficial veins of the lower extremities
In Coronary Bypass Surgery
In patients with occlusive coronary disease caused by atherosclerosis, the diseased arterial segment can be
bypassed by inserting a graft consisting of a portion of the great saphenous vein.
 Results from incompetence of the valves in the perforating
veins, or within the great saphenous vein itself
 This allows the passage of high pressure blood from the
deep to the superficial veins
Varicose vein

18. Summary
 Veins of the lower extremities are superficial and deep
 Great saphenous vein is the largest vein in human and it can be used in coronary
bypass surgery
 Perforating veins connect the superficial with the deep veins
 Superficial and deep veins have valves, which are more numerous in deep veins
 Main veins of lower limb and their tributaries

19. Any Question

20. Reference
Keith L Moore; Arthur F Dalley; Anne M R Agur (2018) Clinically oriented anatomy, 8th edn.,
Philadelphia: Philadelphia : Wolters Kluwer, 2018.
Richard S Snell (2012) Clinical anatomy by regions, 9th edn., Philadelphia: Philadelphia :
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2012.
Netter (2018) Atlas of Human Anatomy, 7th edn., Philadelphia, United States: Elsevier - Health
Sciences Division.