Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
femoral vein
References
Britannica AI Icon

femoral vein

anatomy
Written by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

Quick Summary

The femoral vein is the primary vein in the thigh, running between the hip and knee. It is a crucial part of the circulatory system, responsible for returning blood from the lower extremities to the heart. This vein originates from the popliteal vein at the knee and extends upwards, eventually becoming the external iliac vein at the inguinal ligament.12

The femoral vein is susceptible to conditions like milk leg (phlegmasia alba dolens), which involves inflammation and clot formation within the vein, causing swelling and pain. Thrombophlebitis, a condition involving blood clots and inflammation in veins, most commonly affects the leg veins, including the femoral vein.34

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
5 Britannica Sources
  1. human cardiovascular system - Inferior vena cava and its tributaries
  2. thigh
  3. human cardiovascular system - The aorta and its principal branches
  4. milk leg
  5. cardiovascular disease - Organic disease

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.