THE rOPLITEAL YEIK 



497 



The popliteal vein, thus formed, receives smaller branches corre- 

 sponding with the articular and muscular arteries, and the larger 

 branch named the external saphenous vein. In its course through the 

 bam, the popliteal vein is placed at first internally to the popliteal 

 artery, then behind, and lastly to the outer side of it, but always pos- 

 teriorly and between it and the nerve. Thus situated, it passes up 

 through the aperture in the adductor magnus, and becomes continuous 

 with the femoral vein. 



Varieties. — The union of the veins which fonn the popliteal is often farther 

 np than usual, and the lower part of the artery is accompanied by two veins. 

 Tliis an-angement in some rare cases extends to the entire length of the artery. 



Fiff. 316. 



Fiff. 317. 



IH 



"-^1 



v.: 



. i-'bi-- 



316.— OiTTLiNE OP THE Posterior or Short Saphenous Vein. 



The vein, commencing on the dorsum and outside of the foot, is seen to pass up 

 behind the outer ankle and to dip beneath the fascia in the popliteal space. 



Fig. 317. — View of the Veins of the Groin and neighbouring parts (from 



R. Quain). I 



The full description of this figure will be found at p. 455. The following numlierj 

 indicate the veins : — 2, the femoral vein ; 3, the large or internal saphenous vein ; 3', 

 anterior saphenous ; 4, superficial circumflex veins with twigs to the inguinal glands ; 

 5, sux^erficial epigastric ; 6, superficial pudic. 



The femoral vein extends, like the artery which it accompanies, 

 through the upper two-thirds of the thigh, and terminates at Poupart's 

 ligament in the external iliac vein. Placed at first outside the artery, 

 it gradually inclines inwards behind it; and on reaching Poupart's 

 ligament, lies on the inner side, on the same plane with the arter}'-, and 

 separated from it only by a slight partition of the mernl^ranons sheath, 



