Varicose Veins Health Article

Definition

Varicose veins are dilated, tortuous, elongated superficial veins that are usually seen in the legs but may be found in other bodily locations.

Description

Varicose veins, also called varicosities, are seen most often in the legs, although they can be found in other parts of the body. Most often, they appear as lumpy,

winding vessels just below the surface of the skin. There are three types of veins: superficial veins that are just beneath the surface of the skin, deep veins that are large blood vessels found deep inside muscles, and perforator veins that connect the superficial and deep veins. The superficial veins are the blood vessels most often affected by varicose veins and are the veins first seen when the varicose condition has developed.

The inside walls of veins have valves that open and close in response to blood flow. When the left ventricle of the heart pushes blood out into the aorta, it produces the high pressure pulse of a heartbeat and pushes blood throughout the body. Between heartbeats, there is a period of low blood pressure. During the low pressure period, blood in the veins is affected by gravity and tends to flow backward. The valves in the veins prevent this from happening. Varicose veins start when one or more valves fail to close. The blood pressure in that section of vein increases, causing additional valves to fail. This allows blood to pool and stretch the veins, further weakening the walls of the veins. The walls of the affected veins lose their elasticity in response to increased blood pressure. As the vessels weaken, more and more valves are unable to close properly. The veins become larger and wider over time and begin to appear as lumpy, winding chains underneath the skin. Varicose veins can also develop in the deep veins. Varicose veins in the superficial veins are called primary varicosities, while varicose veins in the deep veins are called secondary varicosities.

Liver disease can cause the appearance of varicose veins in the esophagus or on the surface of the abdomen. These appear in response to increased pressure of blood that is unable to move through a diseased liver. Varicose veins in the esophagus are called esophageal varicosities. Varicose veins on the surface of the abdomen often resemble a spider or the head (caput) of the mythological character Medusa.