ORGANISATION OF THE LEG

EXTENTS

Between the knee and the ankle joint

The skin of the leg

Thin, in some areas directly adherent to the periosteum of the anterior tibia, distal fibula

structures in the superficial fascia

The saphenous, short and accessory saphenous vein and their tributaries.

a ) the long saphenous vein

medial continuation of the dorsal venous arc, joined by the medial marginal vein of the foot. (Dorsal Venous arc [D.V.A] forming the long saphenous vein [L.S.V] on the medial side of the foot )

Course

• Runs with sapheous nerve
  
  
• Runs a thumb breath anterior and medial to the medial malleolus
  
  
• Medial surface of the distal tibia
  
  
• Behind the medial border of the proximal tibia
  
  
• Handbreadth behind medial border of patella
  
  
• Medial convexity of the thigh
  
  
• Passes through saphenous opening 3-4cm below and lateral to the pubic tubercle

Communications

•  With the small saphenous vein

•  With the thoraco-abdominal veins via the superficial epigastric vein

•  With the deep veins via the perforators. The perforating veins have valves that ensure blood flow only from superficial to deep.

what conditions predispose to varicose veins

Termination;

•  Femoral vein ( note the long saphenous vein[D] terminating into the femoral vein [C] )

what is meant by venous cutdown
name the contents of the femoral triangle shown on the diagram

for a continuation of the long saphenous vein in the thigh click here

•  Lies with sural nerve behind lateral malleolus.

•  Passes in the midline of the calf

•  Pierces the deep fascia midleg

•  Several unnamed tributaries at the back of the leg

with long saphenous vein

With deep veins

• Posterior cutaneous nerve of the leg
• Lateral cutaneous nerve of the calf
• Sural nerve
• Saphenous nerve
• Lateral cutaneous nerve of the leg(musculocutaneous nerve)