Nature and function of the leg veins
Our body is characterized by a dense network of blood vessels. The arteries transport the blood from the heart into the body, while the leg veins far from the heart have the Herculean task of transporting the blood from the periphery of the body back to the heart.
What happens when the veins no longer function properly?
If the connective tissue is weakened, it can no longer fulfill its natural support function. The venous valves can no longer touch each other and the vessel can no longer close properly. This causes the blood to flow back into the leg. This condition is known as “superficial venous reflux”. The blood flows back into the ankle and accumulates there.
Venous systems of the leg veins:
There are four venous systems in the leg.
- Because they are large veins surrounded by strong muscles, they are less susceptible to disease.
- The collecting veins, which are located between the skin and muscles, are less well supplied with blood and therefore become diseased more frequently. Diseases are overlooked for decades because they are not visible in normal and overweight people.
- Only the superficial skin veins are visible. This is where varicose veins and spider veins can be seen. Fine dilations of the blood vessels in the skin, so-called couperose or spider veins, are not relevant to the disease. However, the reddish or bluish-livid discolorations on the cheeks, nose or legs are often a beauty problem and are gently removed.
- Connecting veins are veins that connect the venous system.
