Communicating veins are
vein
Veins () are blood vessels in the circulatory system of humans and most other animals that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are those of the pulmonary and feta ...
s that communicate two different points of the same venous system. Other veins that connect the
superficial venous system with the
deep venous system are known as
perforator veins
Perforator veins are so called because they perforate the deep fascia of muscles, to connect the superficial veins to the deep veins where they drain.
Perforator veins play an essential role in maintaining normal blood draining. They have valves ...
.
They can communicate the
great saphenous vein
The great saphenous vein (GSV; ) or long saphenous vein is a large, subcutaneous, superficial vein of the human leg, leg. It is the longest vein in the body, running along the length of the lower limb, returning blood from the foot, human leg, le ...
with the
small saphenous vein
The small saphenous vein (also short saphenous vein or lesser saphenous vein) is a relatively large superficial vein of the posterior leg.
Structure
The origin of the small saphenous vein (SSV) is where the dorsal vein from the fifth digit (smal ...
, (for example the
Giacomini vein
The Giacomini vein or cranial extension of the small saphenous vein
is a communicating vein between the great saphenous vein (GSV) and the small saphenous vein (SSV). It is named after the Italian anatomist Carlo Giacomini (1840–1898). The Gi ...
).
References
Veins
{{circulatory-stub