Small saphenous vein
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Yoshi Yu had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Yoshi Yu's current disclosures- Short saphenous vein
- Short saphenous vein (SSV)
- Small saphenous vein (SSV)
- Lesser saphenous vein
- External saphenous vein
- Vena saphena parva
The small saphenous vein (SSV) forms part of the superficial venous drainage of the lower limb.
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Terminology
Small saphenous vein is the preferred terminology over other terms such as short saphenous vein, external saphenous vein or lesser saphenous vein 5.
Gross anatomy
Origin and course
The small saphenous vein forms by the confluence of the lateral aspect of the dorsal venous network of the foot (lateral marginal vein). It passes behind the lateral malleolus and courses directly superiorly in the subcutaneous tissue of the calf. It perforates the deep fascia (fascia lata) to enter the lower aspect of the popliteal fossa and drain into the popliteal vein.
Tributaries
communicating branches with the great saphenous vein
cutaneous venous tributaries
Communicates with deep venous system via numerous perforating veins.
Relations
accompanied by the sural nerve (branch of the tibial nerve) 3
Variant anatomy
duplication occurs in ~3.5% of the population 3
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variable termination (i.e. not into the popliteal vein in the popliteal fossa) 3
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thigh extension of small saphenous vein (known as the vein of Giacomini): courses between biceps femoris and semimembranosus muscles and drains into superficial, perforating or deep veins; prevalence ~80% 3
variable presence of communicating branches with the popliteal vein
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References
- 1. Ellis H, Mahadevan V. Clinical Anatomy. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN:1405186178. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. McMINN. Lasts Anatomy Regional and Applied. CHURCHILL LIVINGSTONE. (2003) ISBN:B0084AQDG8. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Oğuzkurt L. Ultrasonographic anatomy of the lower extremity superficial veins. Diagn Interv Radiol. 2011;18 (4): 423-30. doi:10.4261/1305-3825.DIR.5321-11.1 - Pubmed citation
- 4. Moore KL, Dalley AF. Anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (1999) ISBN:0683061410. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 5. Caggiati A, Bergan JJ, Gloviczki P, Jantet G, Wendell-Smith CP, Partsch H. Nomenclature of the veins of the lower limbs: an international interdisciplinary consensus statement. (2002) Journal of vascular surgery. 36 (2): 416-22. Pubmed
Incoming Links
- Preaxial and postaxial borders
- Sural nerve
- Venous drainage of the lower limb
- Chronic venous insufficiency
- Lateral compartment of the leg
- Ankle joint
- Popliteal vein
- Post-thrombotic syndrome
- Great saphenous vein
- Cuboideonavicular joint
- Sural neuropathy
- Cuneonavicular joint
- Venous drainage of the foot
- Popliteal lymph nodes
- Popliteal fossa
- Giacomini vein
- Lateral marginal vein
- Metatarsal
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