Morphological Study of the Valvular Distribution in the Long Saphenous Vein

Abstract

Objective:

To measure the distribution of valves in the long saphenous vein.

Design:

Morphological study of the intervalvular distance of the long saphenous vein.

Setting:

Department of Morfología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud (Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain) and Academic Vascular Surgery Unit, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.

Material:

Twenty lower extremities from adult cadavers with no evidence of lower limb venous disease.

Methods:

Anatomical dissection of the long saphenous vein, with accurate measurement of valve distribution.

Results:

There were on average 8.7 valves in the long saphenous vein, with 6.3 above the knee and 2.4 below the knee.

Conclusion:

Contrary to classical anatomical texts on this subject there are more valves in the long saphenous vein in the thigh than in the calf.