Veins of Lower Limb

Question 1

What is the venous drainage in the foot?

Answer 1

. Dorsal venous arch mainly drains into superficial veins

. Some veins from arch join anterior tibial vein

Question 2

Describe venous drainage in the foot and leg.

Answer 2

. 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

Question 3

Describe venous drainage in the thigh.

Answer 3

. 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

Question 4

Describe the venous drainage in the gluteal region.

Answer 4

Drained by superior and inferior gluteal veins, which drain into internal iliac vein

Question 5

What are the two major superficial veins in the lower limb?

Answer 5

Great saphenous and small saphenous veins

Question 6

Describe the route of the great saphenous vein.

Answer 6

. 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

Question 7

Give one clinical use of the great saphenous vein

Answer 7

Can be harvested and used as a vessel in coronary artery bypass

Question 8

Describe the route of the small saphenous vein.

Answer 8

. 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

Question 9

What is the cause of varicose veins?

Answer 9

Valves in veins don’t work, so blood back flows in superficial veins. This causes the veins to be dilated and tortuous.