Great saphenous vein

The great saphenous vein (also known as long saphenous vein, Latin: vena saphena magna) is a major superficial vein of the leg lying beneath the skin, in the subcutaneous tissue. It collects deoxygenated (venous) blood from the medial side of the foot, as well as the medial and anterior side of the lower leg. The great saphenous vein originates from the union of the dorsal vein of the great toe and dorsal venous network of the foot, more precisely, from the medial marginal vein.

The vein ascends along the medial side of the lower leg together with the saphenous nerve. Further, it runs to the medial side of the anterior region of the thigh to reach the saphenous opening, then pierces the cribriform fascia and joins with the femoral vein. The main tributaries of the great saphenous vein in the thigh region are as follows: superficial epigastric vein, superficial iliac circumflex vein, external pudendal veins, and accessory saphenous vein.