Superficial 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 are close to the surface of the body, as opposed to
deep vein
A deep vein is a vein that is deep in the body. This contrasts with superficial veins that are close to the body's surface.
Deep veins are almost always beside an artery with the same name (e.g. the femoral vein is beside the femoral artery). ...
s, which are far from the surface.
Superficial veins are not paired with an
artery
An artery () is a blood vessel in humans and most other animals that takes oxygenated blood away from the heart in the systemic circulation to one or more parts of the body. Exceptions that carry deoxygenated blood are the pulmonary arteries in ...
, unlike the deep veins, which are typically associated with an artery of the same name.
Superficial veins are important
physiologically for cooling of the body. When the body is too hot, the body shunts blood from the
deep vein
A deep vein is a vein that is deep in the body. This contrasts with superficial veins that are close to the body's surface.
Deep veins are almost always beside an artery with the same name (e.g. the femoral vein is beside the femoral artery). ...
s to the superficial veins to facilitate
heat transfer
Heat transfer is a discipline of thermal engineering that concerns the generation, use, conversion, and exchange of thermal energy (heat) between physical systems. Heat transfer is classified into various mechanisms, such as thermal conduction, ...
to the body's surroundings. Superficial veins are often visible underneath the skin. Those below the level of the heart tend to bulge out, which can be readily witnessed in the hand, where the veins bulge significantly less after the arm has been raised above the head for a short time. Veins become more visually prominent when lifting heavy weight, especially after a period of proper
strength training
Strength training, also known as weight training or resistance training, is exercise designed to improve physical strength. It is often associated with the lifting of Weightlifting, weights. It can also incorporate techniques such as bodyweigh ...
.
Physiologically, the superficial veins are not as important as the deep veins (as they carry less blood) and are sometimes removed in a procedure called
vein stripping
A phlebectomy, or vein stripping, is a surgical procedure done under general or local anaesthetic to aid in the treatment of varicose veins and other manifestations of chronic venous disease. The vein "stripped" (pulled out from under the skin ...
, which is used to treat
varicose vein
Varicose veins, also known as varicoses, are a medical condition in which superficial veins become enlarged and twisted. Although usually just a cosmetic ailment, in some cases they cause fatigue, pain, itching, and nighttime leg cramps. These ve ...
s.
Some named superficial veins
*
external jugular vein
The external jugular vein is a paired jugular vein which receives the greater part of the blood from the exterior of the cranium and the deep parts of the face, being formed by the junction of the posterior division of the retromandibular vein wi ...
Upper limb
*
cephalic vein
In human anatomy, the cephalic vein (also called the antecubital vein) is a superficial vein in the arm. It is the longest vein of the upper limb. It starts at the anatomical snuffbox from the radial end of the dorsal venous network of hand, a ...
– glides along the biceps: the "signature vein" of bodybuilders
*
median cubital vein
In human anatomy, the median cubital vein (or median basilic vein) is a superficial vein of the arm on the anterior aspect of the elbow. It classically shunts blood from the cephalic to the basilic vein at the roof of the cubital fossa. It is ty ...
– often used to draw blood (
venipuncture
In medicine, venipuncture or venepuncture is the process of obtaining intravenous access for the purpose of venous Sampling (medicine)#blood, blood sampling (also called ''phlebotomy'') or intravenous therapy. In healthcare, this procedure is p ...
).
*
basilic vein
The basilic vein is a large superficial vein of the upper limb that helps drain parts of the hand and forearm. It originates on the medial ( ulnar) side of the dorsal venous network of the hand and travels up the base of the forearm, where its ...
– usually the largest vein in the arm: often used for
dialysis access
Lower limb
*
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 ...
*
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 ...
– often "harvested" for
coronary artery bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery, also known as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG, pronounced "cabbage"), is a surgical procedure to treat coronary artery disease (CAD), the buildup of plaques in the arteries of the heart. It can relieve chest ...
See also
*
Deep vein
A deep vein is a vein that is deep in the body. This contrasts with superficial veins that are close to the body's surface.
Deep veins are almost always beside an artery with the same name (e.g. the femoral vein is beside the femoral artery). ...
s
*
Varicose vein
Varicose veins, also known as varicoses, are a medical condition in which superficial veins become enlarged and twisted. Although usually just a cosmetic ailment, in some cases they cause fatigue, pain, itching, and nighttime leg cramps. These ve ...
s
*
Vascularity
Vascularity, in bodybuilding, is the condition of having many highly visible, prominent, and often extensively-ramified superficial veins. The skin appears "thin"—sometimes virtually transparent—due to an extreme reduction of subcutaneous fat ...
References
External links
The Veins of the Lower Extremity, Abdomen, and Pelvis– ''
Gray's Anatomy
''Gray's Anatomy'' is a reference book of human anatomy written by Henry Gray, illustrated by Henry Vandyke Carter and first published in London in 1858. It has had multiple revised editions, and the current edition, the 42nd (October 2020 ...
''.
Varicose vein therapy– medlineplus.org
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Veins