saphena

American  

[suh-fee-nuh] / səˈfi nə /

noun

1. saphenous vein.

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saphena British  

/ səˈfiːnə /

noun

1. anatomy either of two large superficial veins of the legs

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Other Word Forms

• saphenous adjective

Etymology

Origin of saphena

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin < Arabic ṣāfin

Example Sentences

Accordingly she was robust, and I bled her from the basilic vein of the left hand and the saphena of the right foot, both within an hour.

From Gilbertus Anglicus Medicine of the Thirteenth Century by Handerson, Henry Ebenezer

When the whole length of the main trunk of the great saphena is implicated, the pressure in the vein is high and the patient suffers a good deal of pain and discomfort.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis

When, on the contrary, the upper part of the saphena and its valves are intact, and only the more distal veins are involved, the pressure is not so high and there is comparatively little suffering.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis

Morbid Anatomy.—In the lower extremity the varicosity most commonly affects the vessels of the great saphena system; less frequently those of the small saphena system.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis

The saphena vein can generally be recognised, and is almost always safe out of the way of this incision at its inner side.

From A Manual of the Operations of Surgery For the Use of Senior Students, House Surgeons, and Junior Practitioners by Bell, Joseph