In the

human body The human body is the structure of a human being. It is composed of many different types of cells that together create tissues and subsequently organ systems. They ensure homeostasis and the viability of the human body. It comprises a hea ...

, the femoral vein is a blood vessel that accompanies the femoral artery in the femoral sheath. It begins at the adductor hiatus (an opening in the adductor magnus muscle) as the continuation of the

popliteal vein The popliteal vein is a vein of the lower limb. It is formed from the anterior tibial vein and the posterior tibial vein. It travels medial to the popliteal artery, and becomes the femoral vein. It drains blood from the leg. It can be assessed ...

. It ends at the inferior margin of the

inguinal ligament The inguinal ligament (), also known as Poupart's ligament or groin ligament, is a band running from the pubic tubercle to the anterior superior iliac spine. It forms the base of the inguinal canal through which an indirect inguinal hernia may ...

where it becomes the

external iliac vein External may refer to: * External (mathematics), a concept in abstract algebra * Externality In economics, an externality or external cost is an indirect cost or benefit to an uninvolved third party that arises as an effect of another party ...

. The femoral vein bears valves which are mostly bicuspid and whose number is variable between individuals and often between left and right leg.

Structure

Segments

Common femoral and subsartorial artery and vein

*The common femoral vein is the segment of the femoral vein between the branching point of the

deep femoral vein The profunda femoris vein (or deep femoral vein) is a large deep vein in the thigh. It collects blood from the inner thigh, passing superiorly and medially alongside the profunda femoris artery before emptying into the femoral vein. Anatomy ...

and the inferior margin of the

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in: *The subsartorial vein or superficial femoral vein are designations for the segment between the adductor hiatus and the branching point of the deep femoral vein, passing through the subsartorial canal. However, usage of the term ''superficial femoral vein'' is discouraged by many

physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

s because it leads to confusion among general medical practitioners. In particular, the femoral vein is clinically a

deep vein A deep vein is a vein that is deep in the body. This contrasts with superficial veins that are close to the body's surface. Deep veins are almost always beside an artery with the same name (e.g. the femoral vein is beside the femoral artery). ...

, where deep vein thrombosis indicates

anticoagulant Anticoagulants, commonly known as blood thinners, are chemical substances that prevent or reduce coagulation of blood, prolonging the clotting time. Some of them occur naturally in blood-eating animals such as leeches and mosquitoes, where t ...

or thrombolytic therapy, but the adjective ''"superficial"'' leads many physicians to falsely believe it is a

superficial vein Superficial veins are veins that are close to the surface of the body, as opposed to deep veins, which are far from the surface. Superficial veins are not paired with an artery, unlike the deep veins, which are typically associated with an art ...

, which has resulted in patients with femoral thrombosis being denied proper treatment. Therefore, the terms ''subsartorial vein'' and ''subsartorial artery'' are sometimes used for the femoral vein and artery, respectively, distally to the branching points of the deep femoral vein and artery.

Tributaries

Several large

vein Veins are blood vessels in humans and most other animals that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated ...

s drain into the femoral vein: *

Great saphenous vein The great saphenous vein (GSV, alternately "long saphenous vein"; ) is a large, subcutaneous, superficial vein of the leg. It is the longest vein in the body, running along the length of the lower limb, returning blood from the foot, leg and thi ...

, into the common femoral vein. *

Deep vein of the thigh The profunda femoris vein (or deep femoral vein) is a large deep vein in the thigh. It collects blood from the inner thigh, passing superiorly and medially alongside the profunda femoris artery before emptying into the femoral vein. Anatomy ...

, whose entry marks the border between the subsartorial vein and common femoral vein. *

Popliteal vein The popliteal vein is a vein of the lower limb. It is formed from the anterior tibial vein and the posterior tibial vein. It travels medial to the popliteal artery, and becomes the femoral vein. It drains blood from the leg. It can be assessed ...

, becoming the subsartorial or superficial femoral vein at the adductor hiatus.

Clinical significance

Occlusion of the femoral vein can be life-threatening due to its size. For example, deep vein thrombosis of the femoral vein can cause pulmonary embolism, with a higher risk when the thrombus is located in the common femoral vein than in the subsartorial vein. The femoral vein is often used to place

central venous lines A central venous catheter (CVC), also known as a central line(c-line), central venous line, or central venous access catheter, is a catheter placed into a large vein. It is a form of venous access. Placement of larger catheters in more centra ...

. This is associated with a significant risk of

infection An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable di ...

. The practice of delivering recreational drugs

intravenous Intravenous therapy (abbreviated as IV therapy) is a medical technique that administers fluids, medications and nutrients directly into a person's vein. The intravenous route of administration is commonly used for rehydration or to provide nutrie ...

ly using the femoral vein is relatively common amongst

injecting drug users Injection or injected may refer to: Science and technology * Injective function, a mathematical function mapping distinct arguments to distinct values * Injection (medicine), insertion of liquid into the body with a syringe * Injection, in broad ...

(IDUs).

Additional images

File:Ultrasonography of deep vein thrombosis of the femoral vein -annotated.jpg,

Doppler ultrasonography Doppler ultrasonography is medical ultrasonography that employs the Doppler effect to perform imaging of the movement of tissues and body fluids (usually blood), and their relative velocity to the probe. By calculating the frequency shift of a ...

of deep vein thrombosis in the subsartorial vein. File:Gray549.png, Drawing of the left femoral triangle - shows superior portion of the femoral vein. File:Gray344.png, Structures surrounding right hip-joint. File:Gray432.png, Cross-section through the middle of the thigh. File:Gray545.png, Femoral sheath laid open to show its three compartments. File:Gray1146.png, The spermatic cord in the inguinal canal. File:Anatomical dissection10.JPG, Femoral vein File:Slide9CCCC.JPG, Femoral vein File:Slide1JJJJ.JPG, Femoral vein File:Slide1LLLL.JPG, Femoral vein File:Slide14LLLL.JPG, Femoral vein File:Slide3NNNNN.JPG, Femoral vein

References

External links

* - "Veins of the lower extremity shown in association with major landmarks." * {{Authority control Veins of the lower limb