1. Surgical Anatomy of the Saphenous Nerve
Victor Dayan, MD, Leandro Cura, MD, Santiago Cubas, MD, Guillermo Carriquiry, MD 
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 
Volume 85, Issue 3, Pages (March 2008)
DOI: /j.athoracsur
Copyright © 2008 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

2. Fig 1
The surface point of the saphenous nerve (SN) at the knee fold is deeper than the saphenous vein (SV). Both are separated by an important adipose layer. The middle-posterior branch does not cross the saphenous vein. The middle-anterior branch crosses superficially the saphenous vein.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2008 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

3. Fig 2
The saphenous nerve (SN) ends splitting in a supramalleolar and dorsomedial branch. In this area of the leg, the saphenous nerve and saphenous vein are adhered. The inferior-anterior branch given off by the saphenous nerve crosses the saphenous vein superficially. This branch is at great risk of injury during the saphenous vein harvest.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2008 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

4. Fig 3
As the nerve descends along the leg, it approaches the saphenous vein and determines a safe and vulnerable region.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2008 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

5. Fig 4
In this sketch, the leg is divided into thirds. The three constant branches of the saphenous nerve (SN) arise at the superior third (middle-posterior branch), between the superior and middle third (middle-anterior branch), and between the middle and distal third of the leg (inferior-anterior branch). (SV = saphenous vein.)
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2008 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions