598 THE VEINS 



1. The obturator vein (V. obturatoria) is a satellite of the artery and usually 

 opens into the external iliac at the insertion of the psoas minor. Its radicles 

 anastomose with those of the internal and external pudic veins (Figs. 451, 455). 



2. The iliaco-femoral or external circumflex veins (Vv. circumflexse femoris 

 laterales) are the two satellites of the homonymous artery. They open a little 

 higher than the obturator. 



The femoral vein (Figs. 450, 451) lies behind the artery in the upper part of 

 the thigh, external to it lower down. Its chief tributaries are: 



1. A very large but short trunk formed by the union of the deep femoral and 

 the external pudic vein. The deep femoral vein (V. profunda femoris) corresponds 

 otherwise to the artery. The external pudic vein {\. pudenda externa) arises 

 chiefly from a rich plexus of large veins situated above and along the sides of the 

 penis and prepuce in the male, the mammary glands in the female. It passes 

 through a foramen in the anterior part of the tendon of origin of the gracilis and 

 runs outward in the suljpubic groove behind the pectineus to unite with the deep 

 femoral vein. The right and left veins are connected by a large transverse anasto- 

 mosis and each has a large connection with the obturator vein. Each receives 

 the posterior abdominal vein (V. epigastrica caudalis) which accompanies the artery 

 of like name. The subcutaneous abdominal vein (V. a])dominalis subcutanea) 

 arises in the skin and ]:)anniculus of the ventral abdominal wall, anastomoses with 

 the internal and external thoracic and deep abdominal veins, and joins the external 

 pudic or posterior abdominal vein. 



A small vein accompanies the external pudic artery in the inguinal canal. 



2. The anterior femoral vein (V. femoris cranialis) accompanies the arterj'. 



3. The saphenous vein (V. saphena) (Figs. 451, 458, 460) arises at the inner 

 side of the flexion surface of the tarsus as the upward continuation of the internal 

 metatarsal vein. Its course is distinctly visible. It ascends on the sul:)cutaneous 

 surface of the tibia and the popliteus muscle, inclosed between layers of the deep 

 fascia, inclines a little backward to the proximal part of the leg, then deviates 

 slightly forward, runs upward on the gracilis, passes between that muscle and the 

 sartorius, and joins the femoral or the external pudic vein.^ On the upper part of 

 the capsule of the hock joint it forms an arch with the anterior tibial vein. The 

 vein has numerous valves. The satellite artery is relatively small and lies in 

 front of the vein as far as the junction with the recurrent tibial vein, which it ac- 

 companies on the leg. It receives the recurrent tibial vein (V. recurrens tibialis)^ 

 at the proximal fourth of the leg. This vessel arises at the inner surface of the 

 tarsus and forms an arch with the posterior tibial vein at the level of the tuber 

 calcis. It ascends in the furrow in front of the gastrocnemius tendon, inclines for- 

 ward at the proximal third of the leg, and joins the saphenous vein at an acute 

 angle. It has numerous valves. A smaller vein from the anterior face of the 

 metatarsus joins the saphenous at the hock. 



4. Muscular branches which correspond to the arteries. 



5. The posterior femoral or femoro-popliteal vein (V. femoris caudalis) is a 

 satellite of the artery. It receives the recurrent tarsal or external saphenous vein 

 (V. tarsea recurrens), which arises at the outer side of the hock, ascends on the 

 deep fascia of the external surface of the leg in front of the tendo Achillis, passes 

 between the biceps femoris and semitendinosus, and joins the posterior femoral 

 vein. It is connected with the recurrent tibial vein by a large anastomotic branch 

 which crosses in front of the tuber calcis. Usually a branch from it ascends along 

 the great sciatic nerve and anastomoses with the obturator vein. 



'The place and mode of termination is quite variable. It may disappear from the surface 

 of the thigh at any point above the distal thiril. In some cases it passes through the anterior 

 part of the gracilis instead of dipping in between that muscle and the sartorius. 



■ This often joins the posterior femoral or the popliteal vein. 



