Perforating veins of the shin in human foetuses

Abstract

There are 3 groups of perforating veins of the shin: the medial, the lateral and the internal sural perforating veins. Dysfunction of these veins is one of the main factors in venous hypertension. There is a lack of data in the literature concerning perforating veins of the shin in human foetuses. The aim of this study was identification of the perforating veins of the shin in human prenatal development. The material examined included 88 human lower limbs of foetuses (21 males and 23 females) aged from 16 to 38 weeks of intra-uterine life. The perforating veins were dissected under a steromicroscope. The number of perforating veins was analysed in relation to the sex of the foetus and the side of a body. In our study perforating veins of the shin did not show sexual or syntopic dimorphism. Between 2 and 6 Cockett’s perforating veins were constantly present. Of these veins 80% divided into ascending and descending branches. Fibular perforating veins were found more often (90.9%) than Boyd’s perforating veins (21.6%). Between 1 and 3 fibular perforating veins were observed but in 9% of cases they were entirely absent.