Clinical Significance: Varicose Veins

Varicose veins result from intrinsic weakness of the muscular tunica media caused by increased intraluminal pressure or from defects in the structure and function of the valves that hamper the flow of venous blood toward the heart.

Although varicose veins can be seen in any vein in the body, the most common are the saphenous veins of the legs, veins in the anorectal region (hemorrhoids), the veins of the lower esophagus (esophageal varices), and veins in the spermatic cord (varicocele).