Perforating veins of the lower limb

Last revised by Bálint Botz on 4 Jul 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

MacManus D, Botz B, Weerakkody Y, et al. Perforating veins of the lower limb. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 16 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-74266

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-74266

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/74266

rID:

74266

Article created:

13 Feb 2020, Daniel MacManus

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Daniel MacManus had no recorded disclosures.

View Daniel MacManus's current disclosures

Last revised:

4 Jul 2022, Bálint Botz ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Bálint Botz had no recorded disclosures.

View Bálint Botz's current disclosures

Revisions:

8 times, by 4 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Vascular, Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Anatomy

Tags:

lower limb, lower leg, vein, deep vein thrombosis, pelvis, perforating veins, perforating venous system, leg, thigh, knee, foot, ankle, perforators of the leg

Synonyms:

Perforating venous system
Perforating veins

The perforating veins of the lower limb (PV or “perforators”) are so called because they perforate the deep fascia of muscles, to connect the superficial venous systems of the lower extremity with the deep veins where they drain. There are numerous veins in variable arrangement, connection, size, and distribution. In the lower limb the Terminologia Anatomica (TA) generally considers there to be 6 groups of them ³.

Perforators of the foot (venae perforantes pedis)

dorsal foot perforators
intercapitular veins
plantar foot perforators
lateral foot perforators
medial foot perforators

Perforators of the ankle (venae perforantis tarsalis)

medial ankle perforators
anterior ankle perforators
lateral ankle perforators

Perforators of the leg (venae perforantes cruris)

See main article here: perforators of the leg

medial leg perforators
- paratibial PV
- posterior tibial PV
anterior leg perforators
lateral leg perforators
posterior leg perforators
- medial gastrocnemius perforators
- lateral gastrocnemius perforators
- intergemellar perforators
- para-Achillean perforators

Perforators of the knee (venae perforantes genus)

medial knee perforators
suprapatellar perforators
lateral knee perforators
infrapatellar perforators
popliteal fossa perforators

Perforators of the thigh (venae perforantes femoris)

medial thigh perforators
- perforators of the femoral canal (Dodd)
- inguinal perforators
anterior thigh perforators
lateral thigh perforators
posterior thigh perforators
- posteromedial thigh perforators
- sciatic perforators
- posterolateral thigh perforators “perforator of Hach”
- pudendal perforators

Perforators of the gluteal muscles (venae perforantes glutealis)

superior perforators
mid perforators
lower perforators

History and etymology

Historically some perforating veins had eponymous names such as ^4,5:

Hunter veins (at thigh level)
Dodd's perforators (inferior 1/3 of the thigh, above the knee)
Boyd's perforators (at or below the knee level)
Cockett's perforators (at the level of the calf and inferior 2/3 of the leg). Cockett's perforators were further subdivided into: superior, medium and inferior perforators

However according to the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA), and the Federative International Committee on Anatomical Terminology (FICAT); Lower extremity perforators are grouped on the basis of their topography and descriptive terms designating location are used to name them ³.