Popliteal vein (left) (Vena poplitea)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
Formed by the anterior and posterior tibial veins in the popliteal fossa, ascending posterior and superficial to the artery to join the femoral; it collects the deep calf muscles through the tibial veins.
Clinical notes
Its popliteal tributaries are the main reservoir of deep calf thrombosis — compression ultrasound assesses it; congenital popliteal venous dilation causes chronic behind-knee pain and swelling.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Popliteal vein (left)?
Formed by the anterior and posterior tibial veins in the popliteal fossa, ascending posterior and superficial to the artery to join the femoral; it collects the deep calf muscles through the tibial veins.
Why is the Popliteal vein (left) clinically important?
Its popliteal tributaries are the main reservoir of deep calf thrombosis — compression ultrasound assesses it; congenital popliteal venous dilation causes chronic behind-knee pain and swelling.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details