Hello and welcome to the Zero to Finals podcast.

My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be talking to you about Varicus Vanes.

And you can find written notes on this topic at zero definals.com slash varicose veins

or in the vascular surgery section of the Zero to Finalsinals surgery book. So let's get straight into it.

Varicus veins are distended superficial veins measuring more than three millimeters in diameter,

usually affecting the legs. Reticular veins are dilated blood vessels in the skin, measuring 1 to 3 millimeters in diameter.

Telangectasia referred to dilated blood vessels in the skin measuring less than 1mm in diameter.

They're also known as spider veins or thread veins.

Let's talk about the development of varicous veins.

Vains contain valves that only allow blood to flow in one direction towards the heart.

In the legs, as the muscles contract, they squeeze blood upwards against gravity.

The valves prevent gravity from pulling the blood back down into the feet.

When the valves become incompetent, the blood is drawn downwards by gravity and pulls in the

veins and the feet. The deep and superficial veins are connected by vessels called perforating

veins or perforators, and these allow blood to flow from

the superficial veins to the deep veins, but not the other way around. When the valves are

incompetent in these perforators, blood flows from the deep veins back into the superficial veins and overloads them.

This leads to dilatation and engorgement of the superficial veins, forming varicrous veins.

So varicrous veins are caused by incompetent valves in the perforating veins.

Let's talk about chronic venous insufficiency briefly. competent valves in the perforating veins.

Let's talk about chronic venous insufficiency briefly.

When blood pulls in the distal veins, the pressure causes the veins to leak small amounts

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