Great saphenous vein

Great saphenous vein
The great saphenous vein and landmarks along its course
The great saphenous vein and its tributaries at the fossa ovalis in the groin.
Details
Source	dorsal venous arch of the foot, and others
Drains to	femoral vein
Identifiers
Latin	vena saphena magna
MeSH	A07.231.908.819
TA	A12.3.11.003
FMA	21376
Anatomical terminology []

The great saphenous vein (GSV), previously also called the 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.

The terms "saphaina" (Greek, meaning "manifest," "to be clearly seen") and "safoon" (Hebrew, "שָׂפוּן" meaning "hidden/covered") as well as "safin" (Arabic, "صَافِن" meaning "deep/embedded") have been claimed as the origin for the word "saphenous."

The great saphenous vein originates from where the dorsal vein of the big toe (the Hallux) merges with the dorsal venous arch of the foot. After passing in front of 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 GSV then courses anteriorly to lie on the anterior surface of the thigh before entering an opening in the fascia lata called the saphenous opening. It forms an arch, the saphenous arch, to join the common femoral vein in the region of the femoral triangle at the sapheno-femoral junction.

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 by perforator veins (Cockett perforators) with the anterior and posterior tibial veins and receives many cutaneous veins; near the knee it communicates with the popliteal vein by the Boyd perforator, in the thigh it communicates with the femoral vein by perforator veins (Dodd perforator) 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 near the sapheno-femoral junction.