ANATOMY(LOWER LIMBS)
DESCRIBE THE PATH OF THE GREAT SAPHENOUS VEIN
The great saphenous vein is a large venous blood vessel running near the inside
surface of the leg from the ankle to the groin. It arises from the dorsal venous arch at
the top (dorsum) of the foot and drains into the femoral vein, the main deep vein for
the leg.
From the foot, it travels through the back of the knee area and ascends through a
triangular opening in the thigh (referred to as the ‘femoral triangle’) that is formed by
two muscles and a ligament. Before reaching the femoral vein, it collects blood from
several smaller veins, including the superficial gastric, superficial circumflex iliac,
and superficial pudendal.
The purpose of the great vein is delivery of blood from the ankle, lower leg, and
thigh to the femoral vein. Along its length are 10 to 20 one-way valves that keep the
blood from flowing back toward the foot. Varicose veins occur when one or more
valves stop working, creating distended areas where blood has backed up into smaller
veins just under the surface of the skin.
The great saphenous vein is sometimes stripped out of the leg to eliminate varicose
veins. It is also used as the source of grafts in coronary bypass surgery.