The external iliac veins are large vein

Vein

In the circulatory system, veins are blood vessels that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated blood to the heart...

s that connect the femoral vein

Femoral vein

In the human body, the femoral vein is a blood vessel that accompanies the femoral artery in the femoral sheath. It begins at the adductor canal and is a continuation of the popliteal vein...

s to the common iliac vein

Common iliac vein

In human anatomy, the common iliac veins are formed by the external iliac veins and internal iliac veins and together, in the abdomen at the level of the fifth lumbar vertebrae, form the inferior vena cava. They drain blood from the pelvis and lower limbs....

s. Their origin is at the inferior margin of the inguinal ligament

Inguinal ligament

The inguinal ligament is a band running from the pubic tubercle to the anterior superior iliac spine. Its anatomy is very important for operating on hernia patients.-Anatomy:...

s and they terminate when they join the internal iliac vein

Internal iliac vein

The internal iliac vein begins near the upper part of the greater sciatic foramen, passes upward behind and slightly medial to the Internal iliac artery and, at the brim of the pelvis, joins with the external iliac vein to form the common iliac vein.-Tributaries:With the exception of the fetal...

s (to form the common iliac vein

Common iliac vein

In human anatomy, the common iliac veins are formed by the external iliac veins and internal iliac veins and together, in the abdomen at the level of the fifth lumbar vertebrae, form the inferior vena cava. They drain blood from the pelvis and lower limbs....

s).

Both external iliac veins are accompanied along their course by external iliac arteries

External iliac artery

The external iliac arteries are two major arteries which bifurcate off the common iliac arteries anterior to the sacroiliac joint of the pelvis. They proceed anterior and inferior along the medial border of the psoas major muscles...

.

Significant tributaries of the external iliac vein

The inferior epigastric vein

Inferior epigastric vein

In human anatomy, inferior epigastric vein refers to the vein that drains into the external iliac vein and arises from the superior epigastric vein...

s drain into the external iliac veins.

External links

- "The arteries of the lower extremity" - "The veins of the lower extremity, abdomen, and pelvis"