What Is The Difference Between Superficial and Deep Veins?

Veins are often overlooked when it comes to heart health, but in reality, they’re the unsung heroes of circulation. While arteries carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart, veins return oxygen-poor blood to it. But not all veins are the same. Some are superficial veins located close to the skin, while others are deep veins within muscles.

Understanding the difference between superficial and deep veins can help you recognize possible circulation issues, such as varicose veins and deep vein disorders, so you can determine when to see a vascular specialist near you.

What is the Purpose of Veins? 

The human body's venous system includes arteries, veins, and capillaries. Each plays a specific role in carrying blood and essential nutrients to organs and tissues. Veins, in particular, keep the circulatory system running smoothly by performing several key functions:

• Returning Blood to the Heart: Veins work against gravity, carrying oxygen-poor blood from the legs, arms, and other body parts back to the heart. Deep veins rely on muscle contractions to push this blood upward, while superficial veins use valves.
• Acting as a Blood Reservoir: The venous system stores nearly 70% of the body’s blood volume. This ensures that blood keeps circulating even during changes in activity levels or blood loss.
• Transporting Waste Products: Veins help remove carbon dioxide and metabolic waste, delivering them back to the lungs and kidneys to be removed from the body.
• Regulating temperature: When the body overheats, superficial veins expand to release heat to keep you cool. Deep veins move blood closer to the core in colder temperatures to retain warmth.

Superficial Veins: The Venous Network We Can See

You probably notice small veins just below the skin from time to time. These are superficial veins, and they rely on vein valves to keep blood moving. The legs have two main superficial veins: the great saphenous vein (GSV) and the small saphenous vein (SSV).

Great Saphenous Vein (GSV)

When discussing leg veins and blood flow, it’s important to understand the comparison between great saphenous veins and small saphenous veins. Aside from being the longest vein in the body, here’s what else you should know:

• Location: Inner leg, from the foot to the upper thigh
• Blood flow: Returns blood from the leg to the femoral vein, a large blood vessel in the thigh
• Muscle influence: Relies on valves to prevent backflow, meaning they don’t need muscle contractions
• Clinical significance: Often involved in varicose veins, which occur when vein valves weaken, causing blood to pool in the legs

Small Saphenous Vein (SSV)

The SSV is another major superficial vein, though it’s shorter than the GSV. But it’s just as important.

• Location: Runs along the back of the lower leg, draining into the popliteal vein behind the knee
• Blood flow: Helps transport blood from the outer foot and calf
• Muscle influence: Valves help blood flow; there’s limited muscle influence
• Clinical significance: Also involved in varicose veins

Because superficial veins don’t receive much help from muscle contractions, they’re more prone to swelling, bulging, and superficial venous reflux disease.

Deep Veins: The Venous Network We Cannot See

Deep veins run within the muscles and connective tissues. These veins are crucial to circulation, even though you can’t see them. These are the key details and differences about deep veins:

• Location: Found within muscles deep in the body and includes the femoral vein, popliteal vein, and tibial veins (lower leg)
• Blood flow: Carries the majority of the body’s blood supply
• Muscle influence: Muscle movement is needed for proper circulation
• Clinical significance: Deep veins are at risk for deep vein thrombosis (DTV), a condition where blood clots form in the legs. Clots can then travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.

Unlike superficial veins, deep vein conditions may not develop any visible symptoms, which is why it’s important to maintain good vein health and circulation.

Take Control of Your Vein Health and Circulation Today

Healthy veins and a healthy heart go hand in hand. So when issues arise, such as from varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis, or venous insufficiency, you should act quickly to get the right treatment.

The Cardiovascular Center of Florida specializes in vein health and circulation disorders, offering venous insufficiency treatment and expert care for deep vein and superficial vein conditions. If you’re experiencing leg pain, swelling, or vein concerns, don’t wait to schedule a consultation with one of our vascular specialists in Orlando. Your veins just may thank you for it.