Popliteal vein

(anatomy) A vein passing through the popliteal space, formed by merging of the tibial veins and continuing to become the femoral vein.

A vein that arises at the lower border of the popliteal muscle by union of the anterior and posterior tibial veins and enters the great adductor muscle to become the femoral vein.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a vein arising in the knee and ascending to become the femoral vein
  Synonym: vena poplitea

Vein: Popliteal vein
Lymph glands of popliteal fossa.
Latin	vena poplitea
Gray's	subject #173 672
Source	anterior tibial, posterior tibial, small saphenous
Drains to	femoral vein
Artery	popliteal artery
MeSH	Popliteal+Vein

The popliteal vein course runs alongside the popliteal artery but carries the blood from the knee joint and muscles in the thigh and calf back to the heart.

Its origin is defined by the junction of the posterior tibial vein and anterior tibial vein.

It drains the peroneal vein before reaching the knee joint and turns into the femoral vein when leaving the adductor canal (also known as Hunter's canal).

The popliteal artery extends from the femoral artery behind the popliteal fossa which is the space behind the knee.

Additional images

The small saphenous vein. Popliteal vein is labeled at top.

The popliteal vein.

External links

• Gray's s173 - Veins of the Lower Extremity
• Popliteal+vein at eMedicine Dictionary

v • d • e Veins of lower limbs (TA A12.3.11, GA 7.669) thigh femoral · profunda femoris · popliteal deep leg fibular · anterior tibial · posterior tibial superficial leg small saphenous · great saphenous (external pudendal, superficial of penis ♂/clitoris ♀) foot dorsal arch · dorsal metatarsal · dorsal digital · plantar arch · plantar metatarsal · common digital · plantar digital

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