258 Veins of the Leg and Thigh. [Book IX. 



here it receives other branches, and then runs up the- 

 infide of the tibia, immediately under the fkin. After 

 communicating freely, and receiving other branches, 

 the faphena pafles along the in fide of the knee, and af- 

 , terwards along the thigh as far as the middle of the 

 fartorius mufcle ; it next runs on the fore part of the 

 thigh to the groin, and at length opens into the top of 

 the femoral vein. As this vein is quite fuperficial, it 

 may be traced through the whole of its progrefs, when 

 it is diftended with blood, by the naked eye. 



The vena faphena minor returns the blood from the 

 outer fide of the foot; from this part it runs up on the 

 outfide of the tendo Achillis, and next between the 

 gaftrocnemius externus and the fkin. It terminates ia 

 the vena poplitea a little above the ham. 



The vena tibialis anterior is a trunk which accom- 

 panies the artery of the fame name, and terminates in 

 the vena poplitea. 



The vena tibialis pofterior begins from the fole of 

 the foot by feveral branches. Thefe, forming a trunk, 

 run on the inner fide of the os calcis, and behind the 

 inner ankle. It pafTes up between the foleus, and ti- 

 bialis pofticus mufcles, accompanied by the corre- 

 fponding artery, and opens into the vena poplitea. 



The vena peronea proceeds upwards along the infide 

 of the fibula, almoft in the fame direction with the ar- 

 teria peronea, and alfo ends in the vena poplitea. 



The vena poplitea, which correfponds with the 

 artery of the fame name, is formed by the three large 

 veins defcribed, but feems to be a continuation of the 

 tibialis pofterior. The vena poplitea runs up immedi- 

 ately on the mufcle of the fame name. About the 

 ham it receives a number of branches from the joiat 

 and from the neighbouring mufcles. A little above the 

 ham it receives the name of the crural vein, which 



takes 



