Great Saphenous Vein
Q66: Give the origin and termination of the great saphenous vein
What our notes say
- Q66: Give the origin and termination of the great saphenous vein (Aponeurosis — Anatomy Question Bank)
- Great saphenous vein: origin — medial dorsal venous arch; ascends anterior to medial malleolus → medial leg and thigh → saphenous opening → femoral vein. (Master First-Year Anatomy: Must-Know Essays & Key Concepts)
- Femoral vein: ascends femoral triangle; receives deep femoral vein and great saphenous vein; becomes external iliac vein at inguinal ligament (Master First-Year Anatomy: Must-Know Essays & Key Concepts)
Study material on Great Saphenous Vein
Practice questions on Great Saphenous Vein
The great saphenous vein
- Joins the femoral vein above the inguinal ligament
- Begins as the upward continuation of the lateral marginal vein of the foot
- Travels with the saphenous nerve along its course
- Runs behind the medial malleolus
- Enters the femoral vein on its anteromedial side
Answer: E. The great saphenous vein pierces the cribriform fascia and enters the femoral vein on its anteromedial aspect below the inguinal ligament. It begins from the medial end of the dorsal venous arch, passes anterior (not posterior) to the medial malleolus, and is only accompanied by the saphenous nerve in the lower leg. ---
Which of the following, regarding the great saphenous vein, is INCORRECT?
- It is the longest vein in the body
- It passes behind the medial malleolus
- At the knee, it lies a hand's breadth behind the medial border of the patella
- The saphenous opening lies about 3cm below and lateral to the pubic tubercle
- The deep external pudendal artery runs medially behind the saphenous vein near its termination
Answer: B. The great saphenous vein passes ANTERIOR (in front of) the medial malleolus, not behind it. All other statements are correct. The vein ascends on the medial aspect of the leg and thigh. ---
The great saphenous vein:
- Is the longest vein in the body.
- Drains into the femoral vein.
- Is located superficially in the medial aspect of the leg and thigh.
- All of the above.
Answer: D. The great saphenous vein is indeed the longest superficial vein in the body. It ascends along the medial side of the leg and thigh and empties into the femoral vein at the saphenofemoral junction. It is superficially located.
The great saphenous vein:
- Is the longest vein in the body.
- Drains into the femoral vein.
- Is located superficially in the medial aspect of the leg and thigh.
- All of the above.
Answer: D. The great saphenous vein is indeed the longest superficial vein in the body. It ascends along the medial side of the leg and thigh and empties into the femoral vein at the saphenofemoral junction. It is superficially located.
The great saphenous vein:
- Is the shortest vein in the leg
- Drains into the femoral vein in the popliteal fossa
- Arises from the dorsal venous arch of the foot
- Is typically located deep to the fascia lata
Answer: C. The great saphenous vein arises from the medial side of the dorsal venous arch of the foot and ascends on the medial side of the leg and thigh, draining into the femoral vein via the saphenofemoral junction in the femoral triangle.
The great saphenous vein:
- Is the longest vein in the body.
- Drains into the femoral vein.
- Is located superficially.
- All of the above.
Answer: D. The great saphenous vein is the longest superficial vein in the body, draining into the femoral vein at the saphenofemoral junction.