- Saphenous vein
- The saphenous veins — there are two, the great and the small saphenous veins – serve as the principal veins running superficially (near the surface) up the leg. The great saphenous vein (also called the large saphenous vein) goes from the foot all the way up to the saphenous opening, an oval aperture in the broad fascia of the thigh, a fibrous membrane through which the vein passes. The small saphenous vein runs behind the outer malleolus (the protuberance on the outside of the ankle joint), comes up the back of the leg and joins the popliteal vein in the space behind the knee (the popliteal space).
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saphenous vein n either of two chief superficial veins of the leg:a) one originating in the foot and passing up the medial side of the leg and through the saphenous opening to join the femoral vein called also great saphenous vein, long saphenous veinb) one originating similarly and passing up the back of the leg to join the popliteal vein at the knee called also short saphenous vein, small saphenous vein* * *
either of two superficial veins of the leg, draining blood from the foot. The long saphenous vein - the longest vein in the body - runs from the foot, up the medial side of the leg, to the groin, where it joins the femoral vein. The short saphenous vein runs up the back of the calf to join the popliteal vein at the back of the knee.
Medical dictionary. 2011.