Document Detail


Micro-venous valves in the superficial veins of the human lower limb.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  14695589     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
It is commonly believed that venous valves are not present in veins smaller than 2 mm in diameter. Venous valves, however, have been identified recently in small veins in several regions of the body. This study was undertaken to determine the size distribution of venous valves in the human lower limb micro-venous circulation. Vascular casts were made from six adult lower limbs and the sampled areas were viewed by scanning electron microscopy. In total, 2,376 valves were identified from 410 cm(3) of subcutaneous tissue. The vast majority (94%) of the valves were in veins less than 300 microm in luminal diameter, with 65% of the valves present in venous channels less than 100 microm in luminal diameter. The smallest valves identified were present in venous channels 18 microm in diameter. All valves were bicuspid and often associated with a tributary. Endothelial cells on the vein wall not associated with a valve were fusiform and arranged parallel to the long axis of the vessel, however, the endothelial cells on the luminal and valve sinus surfaces of the cusp were more polyhedral in shape and showed no obvious pattern of alignment. This study provides direct evidence to show that small superficial veins of the human lower limb do contain abundant venous valves and, for the first time, shows that the majority of these valves are present within venous channels less than 100 microm in luminal diameter.
Authors:
M N Phillips; G T Jones; A M van Rij; M Zhang
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.)     Volume:  17     ISSN:  0897-3806     ISO Abbreviation:  Clin Anat     Publication Date:  2004 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2003-12-25     Completed Date:  2004-07-22     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8809128     Medline TA:  Clin Anat     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  55-60     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cadaver
Corrosion Casting
Endothelium, Vascular / ultrastructure*
Female
Humans
Lower Extremity / anatomy & histology,  blood supply*
Male
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Middle Aged
Veins / anatomy & histology
Venules / anatomy & histology

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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