short saphenous vein

6.8

A vein that carries blood from the foot up the back of the leg to the knee

noun

: vena safena corta

Varicose veins commonly affect the short saphenous vein in some patients.

Examples

The short saphenous vein can be visualized by ultrasound for medical procedures.
During the operation, the surgeon carefully identified the short saphenous vein.
The short saphenous vein is crucial for proper blood drainage.
Can you identify the short saphenous vein on this diagram?
During the operation, the surgeon carefully identified the short saphenous vein.
The short saphenous vein can be visualized by ultrasound for medical procedures.
Varicose veins commonly affect the short saphenous vein in some patients.

Synonyms

saphenous vein

vsshort saphenous vein

Specialized

2 6.8

A long blood vessel near the skin of the leg that carries blood from the foot

refers to a specific superficial leg vein running up the back to the knee

vena saphena

vsshort saphenous vein

Specialized

9.9

A large vein close to the skin of the leg that carries blood from the foot

is the superficial leg vein that drains the lateral foot and runs to the knee

Surface Forms

short saphenous vein singular

short saphenous veins plural

Morphology

short + saphenous + vein

Although 'short' and 'vein' are transparent, the central item 'saphenous' is a specialized anatomical term whose meaning (which specific vein and its course) is not inferable by a B1 learner who only knows the common-word senses. Knowing the constituents does not allow learners to deduce the specific location and function described, so the expression is idiomatic/technical rather than compositionally transparent.

Etymology

Short saphenous vein may come from an old word meaning 'visible' because this vein lies near the skin and can often be seen, and the word short shows it is the smaller of the saphenous veins. That's why the name points to the visible, short vein that runs from the foot up the back of the leg to the knee.