AN UNCOMMON BILATERAL VARIANT OF DRAINAGE OF THE SMALL SAPHENOUS VEIN: CASE REPORT

Abstract

This study reports an unusual variant of drainage of the small saphenous vein identified during routine anatomic dissection of a male cadaver at the Human Anatomy Department. Both the right and left small saphenous veins did not drain into the popliteal vein, but continued proximally on the thigh as the deep femoral vein which, in turn, drained into the femoral vein. The left small saphenous vein showed some peculiarities compared to that of the opposite side: presence of the intergemellar perforating vein at the calf, a perforating vein at the popliteal fossa, and Giacomini`s vein at the thigh. Knowledge about the anatomical variability of the small saphenous vein is important for vascular and cardiac surgeons, for radiologists and anatomists.

Keywords

• small saphenous vein
• drainage
• anatomical variability
• Giacomini’s vein
• perforating vein