VEINS OF THE LOWER LIMB. 



475 



Fig. 322. 



the lower cava, nor in the right auricle, but in the right ventricle of the heart, its 

 orifice being guarded by valves. (Act. Acad. Joseph. Med. Chir. Vindobonensis, t. i. 

 p. 233, tab. 5. Vindobonai, 1788.) 



VEINS OF THE LOWER LIMB AND PELYIS. 



The veins of the lower limb are divisible into two sets, those of one being 

 deeply seated, those of the other running in the 

 superficial fascia. All the veins of the lower limb, 

 as high as the femoral venous trunk, are provided 

 with valves, and these are more numerous than in 

 the veins of the upper limb. The deep veins have 

 more valves than the subcutaneous set. 



Fig. 322. OUTLINE OF THE SUPERFICIAL VEINS OF THE 

 LOWER LIMB. 



1, the saphenous aperture of the fascia lata; , super- 

 ficial epigastric vein ; b, external pudic ; c, superficial cir- 

 cumflex iliac ; d, external or short saphenous beginning ou 

 the dorsum of the foot (see Fig. 326). 



SUPERFICIAL VEINS OP THE LOWER LIMB. 



Immediately beneath the integument, on the 

 dorsum of the foot, there exists a network of 

 veins forming an arch, from which issue two 

 principal trunks, which are 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 ligament. Taking rise from the plexus 

 of veins on the dorsum of the foot, it passes up- 

 wards in front of the inner ankle, and along the 

 inner border of the tibia, accompanied by the 

 internal saphenous nerve. It inclines a little back- 

 wards as it passes the inner condyle of the femur, 

 and ascending along the inner and fore part of the 

 thigh, it terminates in the femoral vein, at the 

 saphenous opening in the fascia lata, through which 

 it passes. 



In the leg it communicates with the deep veins 

 accompanying the anterior and posterior tibial 

 arteries, and in the thigh one or more branches 

 pass between it and the femoral vein. This long 

 vein has a variable number of valves. Sometimes 

 six have been counted ; in other cases only four, 

 or even two. It contains more in its course 

 through the thigh than in the leg. 



TRIBUTARIES. The long saphenous vein is joined in its 

 course by numerous cutaneous vessels. Close to its termi- 

 nation it receives, besides a considerable anterior branch, 

 the superficial epigastric, external pudic, and superficial 



circumflex iliac veins, corresponding severally to arterial branches of the same name. 



i i 2 



