Have you ever wondered which vein is the longest vein in the human body? Probably not, but in case you want to know, it is called the great saphenous vein (or the long saphenous vein).
What is the Function of Veins?
Veins are responsible for returning de-oxygenated blood to the heart. The great saphenous vein runs from the dorsum of the foot, up through the leg and thigh, and then empties into the femoral vein.
Here’s a short video clip of the great saphenous vein on a person with low body fat.
In nursing, we don’t use the great saphenous vein very often for blood draws or IV insertion, especially in adult patients. However, some nursing areas such as the NICU may use this vein, and it has also been used in heart bypass surgery.