262 CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. 



it becomes the external iliac vein. At the usual distance below 

 the groin, where the arteria profunda is given off, the femoral 

 vein receives the vena cruralis profunda, which is derived from 

 ihe branches of this artery, and is rather more superficial than 

 it; the two, however, adhere closely together. Just below 

 Poupart's ligament the femoral vein receives several small 

 branches of veins corresponding with the external pudic arte- 

 ries. 







The Small Saphena (Vena Saphena Minor, Externa) com- 

 mences by several small branches near the external side of the 

 top of the foot, and the external ankle ; a trunk is formed by 

 them behind the latter, which ascends along the tendo-achillis 

 and the posterior face of the gastrocnemius muscle, collecting 

 several small veins from the back of the leg in its course. This 

 vein is superficial in its whole course, being placed immediate- 

 ly beneath the skin. In the ham, it goes for a short distance 

 along the internal face of the popliteal nerve, and then makes a 

 dip through the adipose matter there to empty into the popli- 

 teal vein. 



It is said, by Portal, that the branches of this vein become 

 very apparent in persons who suffer from podagra, and from en- 

 largements of the lymphatic glands in the ham. In such case, 

 their distention has been relieved by the application of leeches 

 along them. 



The Great Saphena (Vena Saphena Magna, Internet) is also 

 superficial, has its primitive roots coming from the internal upper 

 part of the foot, and from the sole of the latter. These branches 

 are assembled into a trunk which passes upwards in front of 

 the internal ankle, then ascends along the internal face of the 

 leg, in a line corresponding with the posterior margin of the 

 tibia. The great saphena continues its ascent over the inter- 

 nal condyle near its posterior part, and then mounts up the in- 

 ternal face of the thigh, in a line corresponding nearly with the 

 internal margin of the sartorius muscle. It finally terminates 

 in the femoral vein, about twelve or eighteen lines below Pou- 

 part's ligament, an opening being left in the fascia femoris for 

 this purpose. 



In the whole of this course the great saphena is situated be- 



