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POPLITEAL VEIN. 



The popliteal vein ascends through the popliteal region, lying, in 

 the first instance, directly upon the artery, and then getting somewhat 

 to its outer side. It receives several muscular and articular branches, 

 and the external saphenous vein. The valves in this vein are four or 

 five in number. 



FEMORAL VEIN. 



The femoral vein, passing through the opening in the adductor 

 magnus muscle, ascends the thigh in the sheath of the femoral artery, 

 and entering the pelvis beneath Poupart's ligament, becomes the ex- 

 ternal iliac vein. In the lower part of its course it is situated upon 

 the outer side of the artery ; it then becomes placed behind that vessel, 

 and, at Poupart's ligament, lies to its inner side. It receives the 

 muscular veins, and the profunda, and, through the saphenous open- 

 ing, the internal saphenous vein. The valves in this vein are four or 

 five in number. 



The Profunda vein is formed by the convergence of the numerous 

 small veins which accompany the branches of the artery ; it is a vein 

 of large size, lying in front of the profunda artery, and terminates in 

 the femoral at about an inch and a half below Poupart's ligament. 



The Superficial veins are the external or short, and the internal or 

 long saphenous. 



The External saphenous vein collects the blood from the outer side 

 of the foot and leg. It passes behind the outer ankle, ascends along 

 the posterior aspect of the leg, lying in the groove between the two 

 bellies of the gastrocnemius muscle, and pierces the deep fascia in the 

 popliteal region to join the popliteal vein. It receives several cuta- 

 neous branches in the popliteal region before passing through the deep 

 fascia, and is accompanied in its course by the external saphenous 

 nerve. 



The Internal saphenous vein commences upon the dorsum and inner 

 side of the foot. It ascends in front of the inner ankle, and along the 

 inner side of the leg ; it then passes behind the inner condyle of the 

 femur and along the inner side of the thigh to the saphenous open- 

 ing, where it pierces the sheath of the femoral vessels, and terminates 

 in the femoral vein, at about one inch and a half below Poupart's 

 ligament. 



It receives in its course the cutaneous veins of the leg and thigh, 

 and communicates freely with the deep veins. At the saphenous 

 opening it is joined by the superficial epigastric und circumflexa ilii 

 veins, and by the external pudic. The situation of this vein in the 

 thigh is not unfrequently occupied by two or even three trunks of 

 nearly equal size. 



