Unusual communication of profunda femoris vein with the popliteal vein in the middle of the popliteal fossa

Abstract

Profunda femoris vein (PFV) rarely forms a direct communication with the lower end of the femoral vein (FV) or popliteal vein (PV). During regular dissections for medical undergraduates, we came across a rare anatomical variation of PFV in the right lower limb of an 80-year-old female cadaver. PFV commenced from the PV just above its formation by the union of anterior and posterior tibial veins. It traversed the popliteal fossa on the lateral side of the popliteal artery and entered into the adductor canal after piercing the adductor magnus muscle. Finally, it emptied into the FV in the lower part of the femoral triangle. Furthermore, the PV had a small caliber than that of PFV. Deep veins of leg are the common site for formation of thrombosis. In terms of diagnosis and operative procedures, the location of thrombosis in the deep veins of lower limb is clinically of great importance. Thus detailed knowledge of the anatomical variation reported here is useful during diagnosis and treatment of deep vein thrombosis.