THE DEEP VEINS OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY 



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The posterior tibial veins (IT. tibiales posteriores) accompany the posterior 

 tibial artery and are joined by the peroneal veins. 



The anterior tibial veins (IT. tibialis anieriores) are formed by a continuation 

 upward of the venae comites of the dorsalis pedis artery. They pass between the 

 tibia and fibula, through the large oval aperture above the interosseous membrane, 

 and form, by their junction with the posterior tibial, the popliteal vein. 



The valves in the deep veins are very numerous. 



The popliteal vein (v. poplitea) (Fig. 520) is formed by the junction of the 

 anterior and posterior tibial veins: it ascends through the popliteal space to the 

 aperture in the Adductor magnus tendon, where it 

 becomes the femoral vein. In the lower part of its 

 course it is placed internal to the artery; between the 

 heads of the Gastrocnemius it is superficial to that 

 vessel; but above the knee-joint it is close to the 

 outer side of the artery. It receives the sural veins 

 from the Gastrocnemius muscle, the articular veins, 

 and the external saphenous veins. The valves in this 

 vein are usually four in number. 



The femoral vein (v. femoralis) (Figs. 521 and 

 522) accompanies the femoral artery through the 

 upper two-thirds of the thigh. In the lower part of 

 its course it lies external to the artery; higher up it 

 is behind it; and at Poupart's ligament it lies to 

 its inner side and on the same plane. It receives 

 numerous muscular tributaries, and about an inch 

 and a half below Poupart's ligament it is joined by 

 the deep femoral; near its termination it is joined 

 by the internal sa.phennns vein. The valves in the 

 femoral vein are four or five in number. 



The deep femoral vein (v. profunda femoris) receives 

 tributaries corresponding to the perforating branches 

 of the profunda artery, and through these establishes 

 communications with the popliteal vein below and 

 the sciatic vein above. It also receives the internal 

 and external circumflex veins. 



The external iliac vein (v. iliaca externa) (Figs. 

 522 and 524) commences at the termination of the 

 femoral, beneath the crural arch, and, passing upward 

 along the brim of the pelvis, terminates opposite the 



sacroiliac synchondrosis by uniting with the internal iliac to form the common 

 j]iac vein. On the right side it lies at first along the inner side of the external iliac 

 artery, but as it passes upward gradually inclines behind it. On the left side it 

 lies altogether on the inner side of the artery. It receives, immediately above 

 Poupart's ligament, the deep epigastric and deep circumflex iliac veins and a 

 small pubic vein, corresponding to the pubic branch of the obturator artery. 

 It frequently contains one and sometimes two valves. 



Tributaries. The external iliac vein receives the deep epigastric, deep circumflex 

 iliac, and pubic veins. 



The deep epigastric vein (v. epigastrica inferior) (Fig. 522) is formed by the 

 union of the venae comites of the deep epigastric artery, which communicates 

 above with the superior epigastric vein; it joins the external iliac about half an 

 inch above Poupart's ligament. 



The deep circumflex iliac vein (v. circumflexa ilium profunda) (Fig. 522) 

 is formed by the union of the venae comites of the deep circumflex iliac artery, 



FIG. 520. The popliteal vein. 

 (Poirier and Charpy.) 



