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 head ...

adductor hiatus In human anatomy, the adductor hiatus also known as hiatus magnus is a hiatus (gap) between the adductor magnus muscle and the femur that allows the passage of the femoral vessels from the anterior thigh to the posterior thigh and then the popl ...

adductor magnus Adductor may refer to: * One of the anatomical terms of motion * Adductor muscle (disambiguation) * Adductor canal {{disambiguation

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 and the inferior margin of the inguinal ligament.Page 590
in: *The subsartorial vein or superficial femoral vein are designations for the segment between the

adductor hiatus In human anatomy, the adductor hiatus also known as hiatus magnus is a hiatus (gap) between the adductor magnus muscle and the femur that allows the passage of the femoral vessels from the anterior thigh to the posterior thigh and then the popl ...

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 t ...

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 Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a type of venous thrombosis involving the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, most commonly in the legs or pelvis. A minority of DVTs occur in the arms. Symptoms can include pain, swelling, redness, and en ...

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 they ...

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 arte ...

, 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 assess ...

, becoming the subsartorial or superficial femoral vein at the

adductor hiatus In human anatomy, the adductor hiatus also known as hiatus magnus is a hiatus (gap) between the adductor magnus muscle and the femur that allows the passage of the femoral vessels from the anterior thigh to the posterior thigh and then the popl ...

.

Clinical significance

Occlusion of the femoral vein can be life-threatening due to its size. For example,

deep vein thrombosis Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a type of venous thrombosis involving the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, most commonly in the legs or pelvis. A minority of DVTs occur in the arms. Symptoms can include pain, swelling, redness, and en ...

of the femoral vein can cause

pulmonary embolism Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blockage of an artery in the lungs by a substance that has moved from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream (embolism). Symptoms of a PE may include shortness of breath, chest pain particularly upon breathin ...

, 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 dise ...

. The practice of delivering

recreational drugs Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasu ...

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 broadca ...

(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 Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a type of venous thrombosis involving the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, most commonly in the legs or pelvis. A minority of DVTs occur in the arms. Symptoms can include pain, swelling, redness, and en ...

in the subsartorial vein. File:Gray549.png, Drawing of the left

femoral triangle The femoral triangle (or Scarpa's triangle) is an anatomical region of the upper third of the thigh. It is a subfascial space which appears as a triangular depression below the inguinal ligament when the thigh is flexed, abducted and laterally rot ...

- 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