THE VEINS OF THE LOWER LIMB. 



537 



SUPERFICIAL VEINS OF THE LOWER LIMB. 



The superficial veins of the sole are numerous, but small, and form a plexus with 

 close meshes immediately beneath the skin. In the furrow crossing the roots of 

 the toes they give rise to a transverse arch which receives anteriorly the sub- 



Fig. 413. THE INTERNAL SAPHENOUS VEIN. 



1, saphenous opening in the fascia lata ; a, superficial epigastric vein ; 

 b, external pudic ; c, superficial circumflex iliac ; d, external or short 

 saphenous beginning on the dorsum of the foot. 



A! 



cutaneous veins of the toes, and posteriorly efferent vessels 

 from the fore part of the plantar network, and from which 

 trunks ascend in the interdigital spaces to join the dorsal 

 veins. Other vessels pass from the plexus on each side, 

 upwards round the margin of the foot, where they are joined 

 by communicating offsets from the deep veins, and open 

 into the beginning of the corresponding saphenous vein. 

 All these veins are provided with numerous valves, which 

 direct the flow of blood towards the dorsum of the foot. 1 



Immediately beneath the integument on the dorsum of 

 the foot there is a network of veins, receiving the dorsal 

 branches from the toes as well as the interdigital offsets from 

 the sole, and forming a more or less regular arch, from which 

 issue two principal trunks, named the internal or long, and 

 the external or short saphenous veins. 



The internal or long saphenous vein extends from 

 the ankle to within an inch and a half of Poupart's liga- 

 ment. Taking rise from the inner part of the plexus on 

 the dorsum of the foot, it passes upwards in front of the 

 inner ankle, and then behind the inner border of the tibia, 

 accompanied by the internal saphenous nerve. It inclines 

 a little backwards as it passes the inner condyle of the 

 femur, and ascending along the inner and fore part of the 

 thigh, following the course of the sartorius muscle, it passes 

 through the saphenous opening in the fascia lata to terminate 

 in the femoral vein. 



The internal saphenous vein communicates below the 

 internal malleolus with the deep plantar veins, in the leg 

 with the veins accompanying the anterior and posterior 

 tibial arteries, and in the thigh one or more branches pass 

 between it and the femoral vein. It is joined at its com- 

 mencement by superficial branches from the inner part of 

 the sole and the heel ; in its course upwards by numerous 

 cutaneous branches from the leg and thigh ; and close to 

 its termination by the superficial circumflex iliac, superficial 

 epigastric, and external pudic veins, corresponding severally 

 to the arteries of the same name, as well as in many cases by a large anterior branch 

 which ascends in the thigh over the position of the femoral artery. There is also 

 very frequently a posterior branch of considerable size, collecting blood from the 



1 W. Braune and P. Mliller, "DieVenen des Fusses und Unterschenkels," 1889; Lejars, "Les 

 veines de la plante du pied chez 1'homme et les grands animaux," Archives de Physiologic, 1890. 



