Quick Facts
Origin: At the medial malleolus.
Course: Ascends in the calf to join the great saphenous vein distal to the knee joint.
Tributaries: Perforating veins.
Drainage: Foot and ankle.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The posterior arch vein arises at the medial malleolus.
Course
The posterior arch vein ascends in the calf, parallel to the great saphenous vein. It drains into the great saphenous vein distal to the knee joint.
Tributaries
Perforating veins from the posterior tibial veins join the posterior arch vein, rather than the great saphenous vein directly (Meissner, 2005).
Structures Drained
The posterior arch vein receives blood from the foot and ankle.
References
Meissner, M. H. (2005) Lower extremity venous anatomy. Seminars in interventional radiology, 22(3), 147-156.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Vein
A venous sinus is a vein with a thin wall of endothelium that is devoid of smooth muscle to regulate its diameter.
