Veins of Lower Limb Flashcards
What is the venous drainage in the foot?
. Dorsal venous arch mainly drains into superficial veins
. Some veins from arch join anterior tibial vein
Describe venous drainage in the foot and leg.
. Medial and lateral plantar veins in plantar foot
. Combine to form posterior tibal vein (enters leg behind medial malleolus) and fibular vein
. Dorsalis pedis vein ascends from foot as anterior tibial vein
. Behind knee, anterior tibial, posterior tibial, and fibular veins combine to form popliteal vein
. Popliteal vein enter thigh via adductor canal
Describe venous drainage in the thigh.
. Popliteal vein passes through adductor canal to emerge anteriorly as femoral vein
. Femoral vein has deep femoral vein with perforating branches
. Femoral vein runs under inguinal ligament to become the external iliac vein
Describe the venous drainage in the gluteal region.
Drained by superior and inferior gluteal veins, which drain into internal iliac vein
What are the two major superficial veins in the lower limb?
Great saphenous and small saphenous veins
Describe the route of the great saphenous vein.
. Dorsal venous arch and dorsal vein of great toe combine to form great saphenous vein
. Ascends up medial side of leg, passing anteriorly to the medial malleolus at ankle and posterior to medial condyle at knee
. As it moves up, it receives tributaries from small superficial veins
. Drains into femoral vein just below inguinal ligament
Give one clinical use of the great saphenous vein
Can be harvested and used as a vessel in coronary artery bypass
Describe the route of the small saphenous vein.
. Dorsal venous arch and dorsal vein of little toes combine to form small saphenous vein
. Ascends up posterior side of leg, passing posteriorly to lateral malleolus
. Moves between two heads of gastrocnemius muscle and drains into popliteal vein in popliteal fossa
What is the cause of varicose veins?
Valves in veins don’t work, so blood back flows in superficial veins. This causes the veins to be dilated and tortuous.