Veins. 



The Superficial Veins 



251 



N.TIBIALIS 



602. 



of the Lower Extremity. 



i/ 



The veins of the lower extremity 

 are superficial and deep. The deep 

 accompany the arteries ; those above the 

 knee are usually single, those below, double. 

 The external iliac or crural vein lies 

 along the inner side of the external iliac 

 artery; the femoral vein 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. The popliteal 

 vein is formed by the junction of the 

 venae comities of the anterior and posterior 

 tibial vessels; in the lower part of its course 

 it lies internal to the artery, but above 

 the knee-joint is close to its outer side. 



The superficial veins are 

 formed from an arch, the fide venosum 

 pedis dorsale, and are the following: 



a) The internal or long 

 saphenous vein, principally from the 

 inner portion of the Bete dor sale, ascends 

 in front of the internal inalleolus to the 

 leg and behind the internal condyle of the 

 femur to the thigh. It passes through the 

 saphenous opening in the Fascia lata (Fovea 

 ovalis) and terminates in the femoral vein. 

 In it the superficial veins of the inner 

 and partly of the posterior sides of the 

 lower extremity empty, also the exter- 

 nal pudic, superficial epigastric 

 and inguinal veins. Sometimes it is 

 double throughout its entire course. 



b) The external (posterior) or short saphenous vein 

 ascends from the outer border of the foot behind the external malleolus 

 close to the Tendo Achilles, then between both heads of the M. gastro- 

 cnemius to the popliteal space, where it pierces the popliteal fascia and 

 opens into the popliteal vein. 



Heitzmann, Atlas. II. 33 



