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. 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).

References

Veins {{circulatory-stub