Key Points
2
➤ Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are the most common ulceration on the
lower extremity, accounting for 70% of all leg ulcers with a prevalence
ranging between 0.06% and 2%.
➤ It has been estimated that approximately 2.5 million people suffer
from chronic venous insufficiency in the United States, and of those,
about 20% develop venous ulcers.
Diagnosis
Table 1. Standardized Venous Anatomy Nomenclature
of the Pelvis
Main collector Draining veins
Plexus and peripheral
veins
Inferior vena cava • Ovarian/testicular veins • Pampiniform plexus
Common iliac vein • Median sacral vein
• Iliolumbar vein
• Internal iliac
(hypogastric)
• External iliac
• Sacral venous plexus
Inferior mesenteric
vein
• Superior rectal vein
• Middle rectal vein
• Inferior rectal vein
• Superior gluteal vein
• Inferior gluteal vein
• Lateral sacral vein
• External rectal plexus
• Internal rectal plexus
Internal iliac vein • Internal pudendal vein
• Obturator veins
• Vesical veins
• Uterine veins
• Vaginal veins
• Deep perineal veins
• Superficial perineal veins
• Deep dorsal veins of clitoris/
penis
• Deep veins of clitoris/penis
• Urethral bulb veins
• Pudendal plexus
• Vesical/prostatic plexus
• Uterine plexus
• Vein of the broad ligament
• Vaginal plexus
External iliac vein • Pubic veins (accessory
obturator veins)
• Sovrapubic veins
• Inferior epigastric vein
• Deep circumflex iliac
vein
Modified from Caggiati A, Bergan JJ, Gloviczki P, Eklof B, Allegra C, Partsch H. Nomenclature
of the veins of the lower limb: Extensions, refinements, and clinical application J Vasc Surg
2005;41:719-24.