Lower limb
Sural veins (Gastrocnemius and soleal venous sinuses)
Venae surales (sinus venosi gastrocnemii)
- Origin
- Large capacitive venous sinuses situated within the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles
- Insertion
- Ascend to empty directly into the popliteal vein
- Function
- Core reservoir of the calf muscle pump, propelling venous volume cephalad against gravity during ambulation
- Innervation
- Sympathetic vasomotor plexus
- Movement & chain
- Vigorously compressed during active plantarflexion in normal walking
- Palpation
- Not palpable through deep calf muscle bellies
- Clinical
- Isolated calf deep vein thrombosis (soleal/gastrocnemius sinus thrombosis), a frequent trigger of post-operative calf pain and potential source of DVT propagation
- Segmental innervation
- Deep calf venous network
- In clinical practice
- Duplex ultrasound evaluation for calf vein thrombosis; graduated compression stockings activate the pump mechanism
- Region in the model
- Lower limb