Great saphenous vein

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Great saphenous vein
dorsal venous arch to the saphenous opening and femoral vein
The great saphenous vein and its tributaries at the fossa ovalis in the groin.
Details
Source	dorsal venous arch of the foot, and others
Drains to	femoral vein
Identifiers
Latin	vena saphena magna
TA98	A12.3.11.003
TA2	5058
FMA	21376
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata ]

The great saphenous vein (GSV) or long saphenous vein (/səˈfiːnəs/) is a large, subcutaneous, superficial vein of the leg. It is the longest vein in the body, running along the length of the lower limb, returning blood from the foot, leg and thigh to the deep femoral vein at the femoral triangle.

Structure

The great saphenous vein originates from where the dorsal vein of the

Several veins join the great saphenous vein, but may not all present in every individual. Most of them join it near its junction with the common femoral vein (CFV), at various average distances from this junction:^[2]

At the ankle, the great saphenous vein receives branches from the sole of the foot through the

The thoracoepigastric vein runs along the lateral aspect of the trunk between the superficial epigastric vein below and the lateral thoracic vein above and establishes an important communication between the femoral vein and the axillary vein.

Clinical significance

Pathology of the great saphenous vein is relatively common, but in isolation typically not life-threatening.^[4]

• Varicose veins: The great saphenous vein, like other superficial veins
  , can become varicose; swollen, twisted and lengthened, and generally considered to be unsightly. Varicose veins are not life-threatening and various treatment options are available. However, when the diameter of the vein is too large for the valves within it to coapt completely, the resulting condition, chronic venous insufficiency, can result in skin color changes in the calf and ulcers that may persist for years if the vein is not ablated.
• ultrasonography to detect if these complications are present.^[4]

Removal of the saphenous vein will not materially hinder normal circulation in the leg. The blood that previously flowed through the saphenous vein will change its course of travel. This is known as collateral circulation.

The saphenous nerve that runs with the upper part of the great saphenous vein is a branch of the femoral nerve. It can be damaged in surgery on the vein.

Use in emergency medicine

When emergency resuscitation with fluids is necessary, and standard

The terms "saphaina" (Greek, meaning "manifest", "to be clearly seen") and "safoon" (Hebrew, "שָׂפוּן" meaning "hidden/covered") as well as "safin" (Arabic, "صَافِن" meaning "deep/embedded")[6] have been claimed as the origin for the word "saphenous".^[6]

Additional images

• 
  Superficial veins of lower limb. Superficial dissection. Anterior view.
• 
  Great saphenous vein. Deep dissection. Anterior view.
• 
  Illustration depicting veins of the leg including great saphenous vein (anterior view).

See also

• Coronary artery bypass grafting
  (CABG)
• Saphena varix
• Varicose veins

References