Saphena
/səˈfiːnə/noun
A saphenous vein, especially the great saphenous vein of the leg.
Did you know?The name comes from Greek terminology describing the vein as conspicuous or readily seen, reflecting how prominent it can appear in the leg.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
saphēnēs
“Clear, manifest, or plainly visible”
Late Antiquity
Greek
phlēps saphēnēs
“The conspicuous or clearly visible vein”
Medieval Arabic medical tradition
Arabic
al-sāfin
“A term used in medical vocabulary for the saphenous vein”
Medieval Latin
Latin
vena saphena
“The visible or conspicuous vein”
16th Century
Medical Latin
saphena
“A saphenous vein, used as a noun”
Modern English
English
saphena
“A saphenous vein, particularly the great saphenous vein”
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