Femoral vein
Updates to Article Attributes
The femoral vein is the main deep vein of the thigh and accompanies the superficial femoral artery and common femoral artery.
Terminology
The term "superficial femoral vein" or its abbreviation, "SFV" should not be used as it is a misnomer (i.e. it is not a superficial vein), and can be especially confusing in the setting of deep vein thrombosis. This is formally stated in the Terminologia Anatomica.
"Common femoral vein" is not listed in Terminologia Anatomica, however, it is in common use and is an internationally accepted term 6.
Gross anatomy
Origin and course
The femoral vein forms as the continuation of the popliteal vein at the adductor opening. Proximal to the confluence with the deep femoral vein, the femoral vein is commonly known as the common femoral vein. It becomes the external iliac vein as it ascends posterior to the inguinal ligament.
In the distal adductor canal, the vein is posterolateral to the superficial femoral artery. Proximally in the canal, the vein lies posterior to the artery in the distal femoral triangle and medial to the artery at the base of the triangle.
In the upper thigh, the vein is between the common femoral artery and femoral canal and therefore occupies the middle compartment of the femoral sheath.
Tributaries
- numerous muscular tributaries
- profunda femoris vein joins the femoral vein posteriorly 4-12 cm distal to the inguinal ligament
- the long saphenous vein enters anteriorly or anteromedially
- lateral and medial circumflex femoral veins are usually tributaries of the femoral vein
-<p>The <strong>femoral vein</strong> is the main deep vein of the <a href="/articles/thigh">thigh</a> and accompanies the <a href="/articles/superficial-femoral-artery">superficial femoral artery</a> and <a href="/articles/common-femoral-artery">common femoral artery</a>.</p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>The term "superficial femoral vein" or its abbreviation, "SFV" should not be used as it is a misnomer (i.e. it is not a superficial vein), and can be especially confusing in the setting of deep vein thrombosis. This is formally stated in the <a href="/articles/terminologia-anatomica-1">Terminologia Anatomica</a>.</p><p>"<a href="/articles/common-femoral-vein">Common femoral vein</a>" is not listed in <a href="/articles/terminologia-anatomica-1">Terminologia Anatomica</a>, however, it is in common use and is an internationally accepted term <sup>6</sup>. </p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Origin and course</h5><p>The <strong>femoral vein</strong> forms as the continuation of the <a href="/articles/popliteal-vein">popliteal vein</a> at the <a href="/articles/adductor-canal">adductor opening</a>. Proximal to the confluence with the <a href="/articles/deep-femoral-vein">deep femoral vein</a>, the femoral vein is commonly known as the <strong>common femoral vein</strong>. It becomes the <a href="/articles/external-iliac-vein">external iliac vein</a> as it ascends posterior to the <a href="/articles/inguinal-ligament">inguinal ligament</a>.</p><p>In the distal adductor canal, the vein is posterolateral to the <a href="/articles/superficial-femoral-artery">superficial femoral artery</a>. Proximally in the canal, the vein lies posterior to the artery in the distal <a href="/articles/femoral-triangle">femoral triangle</a> and medial to the artery at the base of the triangle.</p><p>In the upper thigh, the vein is between the <a href="/articles/common-femoral-artery">common femoral artery</a> and <a href="/articles/femoral-canal">femoral canal</a> and therefore occupies the middle compartment of the <a href="/articles/femoral-sheath">femoral sheath</a>. </p><h5>Tributaries</h5><ul>- +<p>The <strong>femoral vein</strong> is the main deep vein of the <a href="/articles/thigh">thigh</a> and accompanies the <a href="/articles/superficial-femoral-artery">superficial femoral artery</a> and <a href="/articles/common-femoral-artery">common femoral artery</a>.</p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>The term "superficial femoral vein" or its abbreviation, "SFV" should not be used as it is a misnomer (i.e. it is not a superficial vein), and can be especially confusing in the setting of deep vein thrombosis. This is formally stated in the <a href="/articles/terminologia-anatomica-1">Terminologia Anatomica</a>.</p><p>"<a href="/articles/common-femoral-vein">Common femoral vein</a>" is not listed in Terminologia Anatomica, however, it is in common use and is an internationally accepted term <sup>6</sup>. </p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Origin and course</h5><p>The <strong>femoral vein</strong> forms as the continuation of the <a href="/articles/popliteal-vein">popliteal vein</a> at the <a href="/articles/adductor-canal">adductor opening</a>. Proximal to the confluence with the <a href="/articles/deep-femoral-vein">deep femoral vein</a>, the femoral vein is commonly known as the <strong>common femoral vein</strong>. It becomes the <a href="/articles/external-iliac-vein">external iliac vein</a> as it ascends posterior to the <a href="/articles/inguinal-ligament">inguinal ligament</a>.</p><p>In the distal adductor canal, the vein is posterolateral to the <a href="/articles/superficial-femoral-artery">superficial femoral artery</a>. Proximally in the canal, the vein lies posterior to the artery in the distal <a href="/articles/femoral-triangle">femoral triangle</a> and medial to the artery at the base of the triangle.</p><p>In the upper thigh, the vein is between the <a href="/articles/common-femoral-artery">common femoral artery</a> and <a href="/articles/femoral-canal">femoral canal</a> and therefore occupies the middle compartment of the <a href="/articles/femoral-sheath">femoral sheath</a>. </p><h5>Tributaries</h5><ul>
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