Applied anatomy for inferior limb superficial vein puncture

【Objective】To provide regional anatomical basis for clinical application through surveying superficial veins of inferior limbs.【Methods】Superficial veins of inferior limbs were dissected in 30 adult specimens.【Results】The length of great saphenous veins on the left side was(72.07±1.00) mm,that on the right side was(71.08±1.13) mm.The length of small saphenous veins on the left side was(39.23±0.48) mm,that on the right side was(40.50±0.76) mm.The relationships between the great and small saphenous veins and the saphenous nerve and sural nerve were as follows:Saphenous nerve at the knee was located at the rear of the vein,(36.67±8.82) % was on the left side,(43.33±9.04) % was on the right side.Small saphenous veins lines located at the medial side of sural nerve accounted for(63.33±8.82) %,those across the side of nerve were(30.00±8.37) % and those close to the surface of the nerve accounted for(10.00±5.48) %.In addition the diameters and branches of both large and small saphenous veins were also measured.【Conclusion】This study provides regional anatomical data for retrograde puncture,catheterization,selection of blood vessel for puncture and prevention of nerve injury in dorsal venous rete of foot.