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Anatomy Atlases: Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Opus II: Cardiovascular System: Venous Drainage at Fossa Ovalis.

Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Opus II: Cardiovascular System

Venous Drainage at Fossa Ovalis.

Ronald A. Bergman, PhD
Adel K. Afifi, MD, MS
Ryosuke Miyauchi, MD

Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed


Image of venous drainage at fossa ovalis

I, Superficial circumflex iliac vein; E, superficial epigastric vein; P, superficial external pudendal vein; LF, lateral superficial femoral vein; MF, medial and superficial femoral vein; AS, accessory saphenous vein; SS, double saphenous vein; S, vena saphena magna; F, femoral vein.

A: Average "textbook" diagram of venous drainage at fossa ovalis. Incidence, 37%.

B: Multiple divisions of the medial and lateral femoral veins of small caliber. Incidence, 6%.

C: The large lateral superficial femoral vein drains into the fossa ovalis. The inconstant thoracoepigastric vein drains into the vena saphena magna instead of into the femoral vein. Incidence, 2%.

D: The lateral superficial femoral and the accessory saphenous vein drain into the fossa ovalis. Incidence, 2%.

E: The accessory saphenous vein forms a common stem with the superficial external pudendal vein before joining the vena saphena magna. Incidence, 6%.

F: A common trunk formed by the lateral superficial femoral, superficial circumflex iliac, and superficial epigastric veins drains into the fossa ovalis. Incidence, 9%.

G: A common trunk formed by the lateral superficial femoral and the superficial circumflex iliac vein drains into the fossa ovalis. Incidence, 9%.

H: The superficial epigastric and the superficial external pudendal vein form a common trunk. A large lateral superficial femoral vein is present. Incidence, 2%.

I: An accessory saphenous vein is present. Note the drainage of double superficial external pudendal veins. Incidence, 1%.

J: Double superficial external pudendal veins drain into the fossa ovalis. Incidence, 3%.

K: The superficial epigastric vein drains into the vena saphena magna below the fossa ovalis. Incidence, 3%.

L: The superficial circumflex iliac vein drains into the femoral vein. Incidence, 1%.

M: All high collateral veins drain directly into the femoral vein. Incidence, 6%.

N: The lateral femoral and the superficial circumflex iliac vein form a common trunk. The other high collateral veins drain directly into the femoral vein. Incidence, 1%.

O: The lateral femoral vein drains into the fossa ovalis. The superficial epigastric vein drains directly into the femoral vein. Incidence, 6%.

P: Note the small caliber multiple medial and lateral superficial femoral veins. The superficial circumflex iliac and the superficial external pudendal veins drain directly into the femoral vein. Incidence, 1%.

Q: The lateral superficial femoral vein drains directly into the femoral vein. Incidence, 1%.

R: A double vena saphena magna with joining at the fossa ovalis. Incidence, 3%.

S: The saphena magna pierces the deep fascia to enter the femoral vein about 1 inch below the fossa ovalis. Incidence, 1%.

Redrawn from Glasser, S.T An anatomic study of venous variations at the fossa ovalis. Arch. Surg. 46:289-295, 1943.

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