Great saphenous vein

Great saphenous vein

Infobox Vein
Name = Great saphenous vein
Latin = vena saphena magna
GraySubject = 173
GrayPage = 669


Caption = The great saphenous vein and landmarks along its course


Caption2 = The great saphenous vein and its tributaries at the fossa ovalis in the groin.
DrainsFrom =
Source = dorsal venous arch of the foot, and others
DrainsTo = femoral vein
Artery =
MeshName = Saphenous+Vein
MeshNumber = A07.231.908.819
DorlandsPre = v_05
DorlandsSuf = 12851675
The great saphenous vein (GSV), also greater saphenous vein, is the large (subcutaneous) superficial vein of the leg and thigh. First described by the Persian physician Avicenna in the 11th century, it derives its name from the term 'Safin' meaning hidden. It travels mostly in its own fascial compartment in the thigh and is hence 'hidden'.

Path

The GSV originates from where the dorsal vein of the first digit (the large toe) merges with the dorsal venous arch of the foot.

After passing anterior to the medial malleolus (where it often can be visualized and palpated), it runs up the medial side of the leg.

At the knee, it runs over the posterior border of the medial epicondyle of the femur bone.

The great saphenous vein then courses laterally to lie on the anterior surface of the thigh before entering an opening in the fascia lata called the saphenous opening.

It joins with the femoral vein in the region of the femoral triangle.

Tributaries

At the ankle it receives branches from the sole of the foot through the medial marginal vein; in the lower leg it anastomoses freely with the small saphenous vein, communicates with the anterior and posterior tibial veins and receives many cutaneous veins; in the thigh it communicates with the femoral vein and receives numerous tributaries; those from the medial and posterior parts of the thigh frequently unite to form a large "accessory saphenous vein" which joins the main vein at a variable level.

Near the fossa ovalis it is joined by the superficial epigastric, superficial iliac circumflex, and superficial external pudendal veins.

A vein, named the "thoracoepigastric", 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 and axillary veins.

Use in cardiovascular procedures

The vein is often removed by cardiac surgeons and used for autotransplantation in coronary artery bypass operations, when arterial grafts are not available or many grafts are required, such as in a triple bypass or quadruple bypass.

The great saphenous vein is the conduit of choice for vascular surgeons, [Muhs BE, Gagne P, Sheehan P. Peripheral arterial disease: clinical assessment and indications for revascularization in the patient with diabetes. Curr Diab Rep. 2005 Feb;5(1):24-9. PMID 15663913.] [Mamode N, Scott RN. Graft type for femoro-popliteal bypass surgery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;(2):CD001487. PMID 10796649.] when available, for doing peripheral arterial bypass operations because it has superior long-term patency compared to synthetic grafts (PTFE, PETE (Dacron)), human umbilical vein grafts or biosynthetic grafts [Omniflow] . Often, it is used "in situ" (in place), after tying off smaller tributaries and stripping the valves with a device called LeMaitre's valvulotome.

The saphenous nerve is a branch of the femoral nerve that runs with the great saphenous vein and is often damaged in surgeries that make use of the similarly named vein.

Use in emergency medicine

When emergency resuscitation with fluids is necessary, and standard intravenous access can not be achieved due to venous collapse, saphenous vein cutdown may be necessary.

Pathology of the saphenous vein

Pathology of the great saphenous vein is relatively common, but in isolation typically not life threatening.Feied C, Handler JA. Thrombophlebitis, Superficial. eMedicine.com. Available at: [http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic582.htm http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic582.htm] . Accessed on: December 18, 2006.]

* Varicose veins: The great saphenous vein, like other superficial veins, can develop varices, which are generally considered to be unsightly. Various treatment options exist for treating varicose veins. Varicose veins are not life threatening.

* Phlebitis: The great saphenous vein can become infected.

* Thrombophlebitis: The great saphenous vein can thrombose and become infected. Thrombophlebitis of the great saphenous vein is not life threatening in isolation; however, it may be associated with deep vein thrombosis which can be and thus requires further investigation.

ee also

*Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
*Varicose veins


=Additional

References

External links

* - "The arteries of the lower extremity" - Gray's Anatomy.
* - "The veins of the lower extremity, abdomen, and pelvis" - Gray's Anatomy.
* [http://www.answers.com/topic/great-saphenous-vein Great saphenous vein] - Stedman's medical dictionary.
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Great saphenous vein — The larger of the two saphenous veins, the principal veins that run up the leg superficially (near the surface). The great saphenous vein goes from the foot all the way up to the saphenous opening, an oval aperture in the broad fascia of the… …   Medical dictionary

  • great saphenous vein — noun the longest vein in the body; runs from foot to the groin where it joins the femoral vein • Syn: ↑long saphenous vein • Hypernyms: ↑saphenous vein, ↑vena saphena …   Useful english dictionary

  • great saphenous vein — noun The large subcutaneous superficial vein of the leg and thigh …   Wiktionary

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  • 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… …   Medical dictionary

  • Saphenous vein, great — The larger of the two saphenous veins, the principal veins that run up the leg superficially (near the surface). The great saphenous vein goes from the foot all the way up to the saphenous opening, an oval aperture in the broad fascia of the… …   Medical dictionary

  • Vein, great saphenous — The larger of the two saphenous veins, the principal veins that run up the leg superficially (near the surface). The great saphenous vein goes from the foot all the way up to the saphenous opening, an oval aperture in the broad fascia of the… …   Medical dictionary

  • saphenous vein — noun either of two chief superficial veins of the leg that drain blood from the foot • Syn: ↑vena saphena • Hypernyms: ↑vein, ↑vena, ↑venous blood vessel • Hyponyms: ↑long saphenous vein, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Saphenous vein, large — The larger of the two saphenous veins, the principal veins that run up the leg superficially (near the surface). 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… …   Medical dictionary

  • Saphenous vein, small — The smaller of the two saphenous veins, the principal veins that run up the leg superficially (near the surface). The small saphenous vein, runs behind the outer malleolus (the protuberance on the outside of the ankle joint), comes up the back of …   Medical dictionary

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