Femoral vein
Femoral vein shown in thefemoral triangle
Images with and without the sartorius muscle, showing the femoral vein and artery beneath
Details
Source	Popliteal,profunda femoris,great saphenous
Drains to	External iliac vein
Artery	Femoral artery
Identifiers
Latin	vena femoralis
MeSH	D005268
TA98	A12.3.11.023
TA2	5055
FMA	21185
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

In thehuman body, thefemoral vein is thevein that accompanies thefemoral artery in thefemoral sheath. It is adeep vein that begins at theadductor hiatus (an opening in theadductor magnus muscle) as the continuation of thepopliteal vein. Thegreat saphenous vein (asuperficial vein), and thedeep femoral vein drain into the femoral vein in thefemoral triangle when it becomes known as the common femoral vein. It ends at the inferior margin of theinguinal ligament where it becomes theexternal iliac vein.^[1] Its major tributaries are the deep femoral vein, and the great saphenous vein. The femoral vein containsvalves.

The femoral vein bears valves which are mostly bicuspid and whose number is variable between individuals and often between left and right leg.^[1]

The femoral vein continues into thethigh as the continuation from thepopliteal vein at the back of the knee. It drains blood from the deep thigh muscles andthigh bone.^[2] Proximal to the confluence with the deep femoral vein, and the joining of thegreat saphenous vein, the femoral vein is widely known as thecommon femoral vein.^[3] As the common femoral vein leaves the inguinal ligament region it becomes theexternal iliac vein.^[4] Other tributaries of the femoral vein are lateral and medial circumflex femoral veins.

The common femoral vein is the segment of the femoral vein between the branching point of thedeep femoral vein and the inferior margin of theinguinal ligament.^[5][6] It is not listed inTerminologia Anatomica, which is the international standard forhuman anatomical terminology developed by theFederative International Programme on Anatomical Terminology. However, it was thought to be due for inclusion in the next edition following consensus documents presented in 2001 at the 14th World Congress of the International Union of Phlebology, and in 2004 at the 21st World Congress of the International Union of Angiology.^[7][8] These consensus documents were brought about by the need felt for more clarity and expansion of terms.^[9][10]

In the past, the femoral vein was seen to follow thesuperficial femoral artery a name used to distinguish thefemoral artery from thedeep femoral artery; as per the norm of naming veins to match their artery the femoral vein was called thesuperficial femoral vein. This was a potentially harmful misnomer since the femoral vein is adeep vein and not asuperficial vein, and thus a possible site for adeep vein thrombosis, that may be overlooked as a superficial vein foranticoagulant therapy.^[12]

Because of the widespread misunderstanding, and possible harmful results from the use ofsuperficial femoral vein, a consensus was arrived at in 2001 during the World Congress of the International Union of Phlebology to change the name fromsuperficial femoral vein simply to femoral vein.^[13] This has been widely recognised and adopted though the use ofsuperficial femoral vein still persists in some sources. Its use is actively discouraged.^[14][15][16] It has been suggested that another term be used – thesubsartorial vein.^[17][18] A previous usage ofsubsartorial artery was published to avoid the namesuperficial femoral vein from being used.^[19] As per the consensus of 2002, the superficial femoral artery was unchanged.^[20]

Thegreat saphenous vein, and thedeep femoral vein are two large tributaries that drain into the femoral vein which then becomes known as the common femoral vein. Other smaller vein tributaries are the lateral and medial circumflex femoral veins.^[21] These circumflex veins follow thelateral circumflex femoral artery, and themedial circumflex femoral artery.

The femoral vein is a common site for adeep vein thrombosis. This can be aproximal DVT in the femoral vein, or more proximal as aniliofemoral DVT usually associated with the common femoral vein. An iliofemoral DVT carries a greater risk of apulmonary embolism developing.^[22]

The femoral vein is often used to place acentral venous catheter, orline forvenous access.Ultrasound imaging for locating the vein and catheter placement is advocated over the use ofanatomical landmarks due to the possible presence ofanatomical variants.^[23][24][25] This is associated with a significant risk ofinfection.^[25][26]

The practice of deliveringrecreational drugsintravenously using the femoral vein in the groin is relatively common amongstinjecting drug users.^[27]

• 
  Position of femoral vein and artery in adductor canal
• 
  Structures surrounding right hip-joint.
• 
  Femoral sheath laid open to show its three compartments.
• 
  Femoral vein

• Anatomy figure: 12:05-01 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center—Veins of the lower extremity shown in association with major landmarks."
• Cross section image: pelvis/pelvis-e12-15—Plastination Laboratory at the Medical University of Vienna

• Veins of the lower limb

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