saphenous vein

sa·phe·nous vein

S0082800 (sə-fē′nəs)n. Either of two main superficial veins of the leg, one larger than the other, that begin at the foot.

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[saphenous, pertaining to the saphena, a saphenous vein, from Middle English, from Medieval Latin saphēna, saphenous vein, from Arabic ṣāfin, standing with one leg slightly raised, saphena, participle of ṣafana, to stand with one leg slightly raised.]

sa•phe′nous vein′

(səˈfi nəs)

n. either of two large veins near the surface of the leg from thigh to foot, one along the inner side and the other outer and posterior. [1830–40; saphen(a) saphenous vein (Middle English < Medieval Latin < Arabic ṣāfin) + -ous]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

saphenous vein - either of two chief superficial veins of the leg that drain blood from the footvena saphenagreat saphenous vein, long saphenous vein - the longest vein in the body; runs from foot to the groin where it joins the femoral veinshort saphenous vein - a vein running from the foot up the back of the leg to the kneevein, vena, venous blood vessel - a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart; "all veins except the pulmonary vein carry unaerated blood"leg - a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle