Where does the great saphenous vein enter the thigh?
From the dorsal venous arch, the great saphenous vein passes anterior to the medial malleolus of the ankle and enters the medial side of the leg. As it ascends through the leg, it merges with many superficial veins of the leg before passing over the medial epicondyle of the femur at the knee and entering the thigh.
What is the Great saphrenous vein?
The great saphenous vein is also known as long saphenous vein. It is the longest vein in the body and runs superficially along the length of the lower limb. In the end we will conclude with a summary and some review questions to test the reader’s understanding of the article content.
Why is the great saphenous vein a venous graft?
Because of its superficial location and the redundancy of veins in the leg, it can be harvested as a venous graft for coronary bypass surgery. During this surgery, the great saphenous vein is removed from the leg and sutured from the aorta to a coronary artery to bypass a blockage in the artery.
What are the walls of the great saphenous vein composed of?
Like all venous vessels, the walls of the great saphenous vein are composed of three layers: 3 Tunica intima: The innermost layer is composed of epithelium, a thin layer of cells, and other connective tissues to form a protective coating.
Where is the Great Saphenous Vein?
The great saphenous vein is a large venous blood vessel running near the inside surface of the leg from the ankle to the groin.
Why is the great saphenous vein stripped out of the leg?
The great saphenous vein is sometimes stripped out of the leg to eliminate varicose veins. It is also used as the source of grafts in coronary bypass surgery. Last medically reviewed on January 20, 2018.
What is the purpose of the great vein?
The purpose of the great vein is delivery of blood from the ankle, lower leg, and thigh to the femoral vein. Along its length are 10 to 20 one-way valves that keep the blood from flowing back toward the foot. Varicose veins occur when one or more valves stop working, creating distended areas where blood has backed up into smaller veins just ...
Where does the femoral vein travel?
From the foot, it travels through the back of the knee area and ascends through a triangular opening in the thigh (referred to as the ‘femoral triangle’) that is formed by two muscles and a ligament. Before reaching the femoral vein, it collects blood from several smaller veins, including the superficial gastric, superficial circumflex iliac, ...
What is the purpose of the Great Saphenous Vein?
The great saphenous vein’s primary task is to drain deoxygenated blood from the foot, as well as superficial parts of the leg and knee (closer to the surface). This is taken back to the heart and lungs, where oxygen and nutrients are restored for delivery to the rest of the body.
Why is the great saphenous vein important?
Clinical Significance. The great saphenous vein also has clinical applications. Because of its position close to the surface of the skin, it offers easy access for sampling blood. This, along with its size, also makes this vein a good candidate for harvesting to use in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
What is the longest vein in the body?
Clinical Significance. Running from the top of the foot (dorsum) and up the inner sides of the leg, the great saphenous vein is the body’s longest vein. Sometimes called the long saphenous vein, it arises from the medial marginal vein of the foot. It terminates as it drains into the femoral vein on the inner ...
What is the saphenous vein used for?
Since the great saphenous vein is close to the skin’s surface, it’s sometimes used for sampling blood for testing. Sections of this vein may be harvested for use in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery for heart disease.
Which vein drains blood from the sole of the foot?
The medial marginal vein helps form the origin of the great saphenous vein and drains blood from the sole of the foot. The small saphenous vein drains the lateral surfaces in the upper foot, ankle, and parts of the leg. Tibial veins —of which there is an anterior and a posterior one—drain from the foot, ankle, and leg, ...
What veins collect blood from the thigh?
Veins in the thigh, including the accessory saphenous, anterior femoral cutaneous, superficial epigastric, superficial circumflex iliac, and superficial external pudendal veins, collect blood from both surface and deeper tissues of the leg and thigh. 2.
Where is the femoral triangle located?
As it runs up the thigh, it remains on the medial side. The femoral triangle, at the top of the thigh and pelvis, is accessed by the great saphenous vein via an opening called the saphenous opening. It is here—at what’s called the saphenofemoral junction—that it terminates into the femoral vein.
Where does the saphenous vein enter the thigh?
From the dorsal venous arch, the great saphenous vein passes anterior to the medial malleolus of the ankle and enters the medial side of the leg. As it ascends through the leg, it merges with many superficial veins of the leg before passing over the medial epicondyle of the femur at the knee and entering the thigh. Continuing through the thigh, the great saphenous vein turns anteriorly while merging with several more superficial veins. At the top of the thigh, it passes through the saphenous opening of the fascia lata and enters the deeper tissues of the upper thigh before merging into the femoral vein.
What is the purpose of the great saphenous vein?
The great saphenous vein plays an important role in returning blood from the superficial tissues of the leg to the heart and is also used in several medical procedures due to its size and superficial location.
What is the purpose of venous valves?
Many one-way venous valves help to move blood through the veins of the lower extremities against the pull of gravity. Blood passing through the veins of the leg is under very little pressure and so must be pumped toward ...
What is the name of the vein that runs from the top of the foot to the upper thigh?
Great Saphenous Vein. The great saphenous vein is the major superficial vein of the medial leg and thigh. It is the longest vein in the human body, extending from the top of the foot to the upper thigh and groin. The great saphenous vein plays an important role in returning blood from the superficial tissues of the leg to ...
Why are great saphenous veins important?
The great saphenous vein is clinically significant for its use in coronary bypass surgery and in intravenous delivery of fluids. Because of its superficial location and the redundancy of veins in the leg, ...
Where does the saphenous vein go when it ascends?
As it ascends through the leg, it merges with many superficial veins of the leg before passing over the medial epicondyle of the femur at the knee and entering the thigh. Continuing through the thigh, the great saphenous vein turns anteriorly while merging with several more superficial veins.
Can a great saphenous vein be harvested?
During this surgery, the great saphenous vein is removed from the leg and sutured from the aorta to a coronary artery to bypass a block age in the artery. The vein is either turned ...
Where is the saphenous vein located?
The small saphenous vein runs under the skin from the outside of the foot to the back of the calf, ending at the knee. It is the second most likely vein to be treated for symptoms related to venous insufficiency.
Where is the vein in the leg?
The vein runs just under the skin along the inside of your leg from inside of your foot, connecting to the deep vein system near the groin. The great saphenous vein is the most likely vein to be treated for venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency, also known as vein disease, is not a life-threatening condition.
What causes vein insufficiency?
Venous insufficiency — which impacts veins including the great saphenous vein — is fairly common, affecting about one in five adults. Risk factors include: 1 Age 2 Sitting or standing for long periods 3 Being overweight or obese 4 A family history of varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis (DVT): If either condition runs in your family, you’re also more likely to develop it yourself. 5 Being female, being pregnant or having a baby
What are the major veins?
Major veins and arteries have names, including the aorta, common carotid artery, external carotid artery, femoral artery, great saphenous vein, and the small saphenous vein. Each has a different function.
What are the symptoms of vein disease?
Symptoms of vein disease include a feeling of heaviness in the legs, pain, discomfort, legs being itchy, and skin changes and discoloration. People with vein disease often experience varicose veins and purple veins on the legs. These swollen, discolored veins often make it very difficult to do daily activities.
What part of the body is responsible for carrying oxygenated blood to organs?
Take a closer look at this part of the body and how it works. Your body’s circulatory system includes your heart, and your blood vessels. Blood vessels are divided into three types: Arteries: Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your body’s organs and tissues.
Can a great saphenous vein be used for cardiac surgery?
Finally, the great saphenous vein has a unique purpose as it can be used in cardiac surgery. If you need coronary bypass surgery, your surgeon may remove this vein from one of your legs and suture it into the heart to bypass any blockages.