Search

Our knowledge of the anatomy of lower extremity veins is based on description of three main groups of veins more than a century ago by John Gay.1 Since Gay’s original communication, important data have accumulated on venous components of the cutaneous micro circulation, the functional anatomy of venous muscle pump, distribution and function of venous valves and the location and possible role of perforating veins. These observations have allowed a functional approach to understand the complex and intriguing anatomy of the venous system of the lower extremity.

A thorough knowledge of topographical anatomy is essential for learning new surgical procedures. Operations on the venous system of the legs require understanding the anatomy of the main groups of veins, their location and relationship to adjacent structures within the different compartments of the leg. Veins in few regions of the human body have more variability than in the lower limbs, and few areas in the body have a more complex topographical anatomy than the subfascial leg compartments.