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 using medical ultrasound. It can be affected by popliteal vein entrapment.

Popliteal vein
Front and back views of popliteal and other veins
Lymph glands of popliteal fossa, with popliteal vein labeled.
Details
Source	Anterior tibial, posterior tibial, small saphenous
Drains to	Femoral vein
Artery	Popliteal artery
Identifiers
Latin	vena poplitea
MeSH	D011152
TA98	A12.3.11.028
TA2	5072
FMA	44327
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

Structure

The popliteal vein is formed by the junction of the venae comitantes of the anterior tibial vein and the posterior tibial vein at the lower border of the popliteus muscle. It travels on the medial side of the popliteal artery.^[1] It is superficial to the popliteal artery.^[2] As it ascends through the fossa, it crosses behind the popliteal artery so that it comes to lie on its lateral side. It passes through the adductor hiatus (the opening in the adductor magnus muscle) to become the femoral vein.^[1][3]

Tributaries

The tributaries of the popliteal vein include:

• Veins that correspond to branches given off by the popliteal artery (see popliteal artery).
• the small saphenous vein, which perforates the deep fascia and passes between the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscle to end in the popliteal vein.^[1][2]
• the fibular veins.

Variation

The popliteal vein may be doubled in up to 35% of people.^[2]

Function

The popliteal vein drains blood from the leg.^[2]

Clinical significance

The popliteal vein is readily palpated in the popliteal fossa adjacent to the adductor magnus muscle.^[4]

The popliteal vein can be visualised using medical ultrasound, including Doppler ultrasonography.^[2] It may be affected by a thrombus.^[2]

Popliteal vein entrapment

The popliteal vein may become trapped.^[5] This reduces the flow of blood out of the leg, causing oedema, pain, and venous ulcers.^[5] Entrapment is usually caused by gastrocnemius muscle.^[5] Venography (using an x-ray) or magnetic resonance imaging can investigate it.^[5] Surgery can be used to remove tissue creating pressure.^[5]

Additional images

• 
  The small saphenous vein. Popliteal vein is labeled at top.
• 
  The popliteal vein
• 
  Veins of the leg

References

1. Drake, Richard L. (Richard Lee), 1950- (2005). Gray's anatomy for students. Vogl, Wayne., Mitchell, Adam W. M., Gray, Henry, 1825-1861. Philadelphia: Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone. ISBN 0-443-06612-4. OCLC 55139039.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
2. Baxter, Grant M.; Goss, David E. (2011). "64 - Peripheral veins". Clinical Ultrasound. Vol. 2 (3rd ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 1227–1250. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-3131-1.00064-X. ISBN 978-0-7020-3131-1.
3. Moore K.L. and Dalley A.F. (2006), Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 5th Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Toronto, page 636
4. Martini, Frederic; Tallitsch, Robert B.; Nath, Judi L. (2017). Human Anatomy (9th ed.). Pearson. p. 594. ISBN 9780134320762.
5. Raju, Seshadri (2007). "62 - Popliteal Vein Entrapment". The Vein Book. Academic Press. pp. 575–578. doi:10.1016/B978-012369515-4/50065-X. ISBN 978-0-12-369515-4.