saphenous vein

noun

Medical Definition of saphenous vein

: either of two chiefly superficial veins of the leg:

a : one originating in the foot and passing up the medial side of the leg and through the saphenous opening to join the femoral vein

— called also great saphenous vein, long saphenous vein

b : one originating similarly and passing up the back of the leg to join the popliteal vein at the knee

— called also short saphenous vein, small saphenous vein