Chap. 9. Of the Crural Veins.
THe Venae Crurales, as also the Arteries and Nerves passing along, are in the bending of the Thigh in∣terwoven with frequent kernels, for firmness sake. After∣wards there arise from the crural Ve•••• six branches.
- 1. Saphaeda (so cal'd because of its apparency more than other foot-Veins) or Venae m••leoli the Anckle-vein, is long and remarkable, it is carried along in the Inside of the Thigh, with a Nerve stretched by it, between the Skin and Membran•• Carnosa to the Knee, and along the inner part of the Leg, it goes to the inner Anckle. And it is variously distributed into the upper parts of the Foot, towards the Toes, especially the great Toe. This is ope∣ned about the Ankle, in Diseases of the Womb, especial∣ly when the Courses are stopt, and in the Gonorrhaea to evacuate or revell the Blood which otherwise would as∣cend too plentifully unto the Womb and Genitals. Now it must be opened where it is most apparent, whether it be on the Back or side of the Foot.
- 2. Ischias minor is opposite to the former. for it is a short outer branch, springing from the crural: it is carri∣ed outwardly and athwart into the skin of the Hip, and the Muscles of that place.
- 3. Muscula, arises from a Trunk, which lies hid among the Muscles: it is a double and remarkable Branch, di∣stributed among the Muscles seated in the Thigh.
- 4. Poplitea the Ham-vein, is made of a double Crural branch mingled together, and runs streight along under the Skin, behind, through the midst of the bending of the Ham, as far as to the Heel, somtimes to the Skin of the Outer Ankle. This Vein is commonly supposed to have been frequently open'd by the Ancients, under the Knee, and Paulus Magnus a Chyrurgeon of Rome, did once open it. But because it lies exceeding deep, and cannot be seen, we must suppose it cannot be opened: and perhaps this is not the Venae poplitea of the Ancients, especially seeing Galen is exceeding various in his description there∣of, and calls it somtimes the Vein in the Ham, somtimes about the Ham, somtimes at the Knee, otherwhiles under the Knee; peradventure he meant the Ankle-vein, which descends to the inner bunching of the Leg, and is indeed conspicuous enough under the Knee.
- 5. Is cal'd Suralis, which is a great Vein; and is divi∣ded into the external and lesser, and the internal and greater branch, and each of them again into exterior and interior. It is distributed amongst the Muscles of the calf of the Leg. On the back of the Foot, being mixed with the branches of the Poplitea, it makes that same va∣rious texture of Veins, which is apparent under the Skin.
- 6. Ischias Major gives a part to the Muscles of the Calf, and then spends it self into ten branches, bestowing a couple upon each Toe.
Touching all these it is to be noted:
- 1. That all these branches, do send divers tigs outwards to the Skin, which are termed Skin-veins.
- 2. That all these branches are diversly disposed in dif∣ferent men, as was said in the Arms; nor is there alwaies the same carriage of Veins, in both the Legs of the same person.
- 3. That there is also no great choyce to be made in o∣pening the Veins of the Feet; seeing they are all derived from one Trunk, and the Blood ascends from the extream parts and Arteries.