Structures in the superficial fascia

The saphenous venous system

• Great saphenous vein
• Small saphenous vein
• Accessory saphenous vein

The long saphenous vein

medial continuation of the dorsal venous arc, joined by the medial marginal vein of the foot. (Dorsal Venous arc [D.V.A] forming the long saphenous vein [L.S.V] on the medial side of the foot )

• Runs a thumb breath anterior and medial to the medial malleolus
• Medial surface of the distal tibia
• Behind the medial border of the proximal tibia
• Handbreadth behind medial border of patella
• Runs with sapheous nerve
• Medial convexity of the thigh
• Passes through saphenous opening 3-4cm below and lateral to the pubic tubercle

Communications

•  With the small saphenous vein

•  With the thoraco-abdominal veins via the superficial epigastric vein

•  With the deep veins via the perforators. The perforating veins have valves that ensure blood flow only from superficial to deep.

what conditions predispose to varicose veins

Termination

•  Femoral vein ( note the long saphenous vein[D] terminating into the femoral vein [C] ) s

what is meant by venous cutdown
name the contents of the femoral triangle shown on the diagram

for a continuation of the long saphenous vein in the thigh click here

lateral continuation of the dorsal venous arch ( note the small saphenous vein [s.s.v] originating from the dorsal venous arch [D.V.A] on the lateral side of the foot)

Course

•  Lies with sural nerve behind lateral malleolus.

•  Passes in the midline of the calf

•  Pierces the deep fascia midleg

Tributaries

  Several unnamed tributaries at the back of the leg

Termination

Popliteal vein ( small saphenous vein [S.S] runnig together with the sural nerve [C] and terminating in the popliteal fossa to popliteal vein ) with long

Communication

• saphenous vein
• With deep veins

• Posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh
• Lateral cutaneous nerve of the calf
• Sural nerve
• Saphenous nerve
• Lateral cutaneous nerve of the leg(musculocutaneous nerve)

Name the other nerves