The femoral vein is located in the upper thigh and pelvic region of the human body. It travels in close proximity to the femoral artery.
This vein is one of the larger vessels in the venous system. Instead of draining deoxygenated blood from specific parts of the body, it receives blood from several significant branches. These include popliteal, the profunda femoris, and the great sapheneous veins. The femoral artery provides an opposite function, as it delivers the oxygenated blood to the leg and pelvic region. Eventually, the femoral vein transports blood to the inferior vena cava. Towards the end of the circulation, deoxygenated blood enters the right side of the heart, where it is pumped to the lungs for oxygenation.
Because of its size and importance, problems with the femoral vein could potentially be fatal. This is especially true if the vein develops a blood clot or some other type of blockage.