Varicose Veins, Legs. Female. Illustrated with thermography

Images N0037599 - N0037602 show a female who has varicose veins on the right leg. N0037599 Showing the right leg medial and left leg lateral views N0037600 shows an anterior view (from the front) N0037601 Showing the left leg medial and right leg lateral views N0037602 shows a posterior view (from the back) The vein on the right leg is visible with the naked eye and raised from the skin. A similar vein was removed from the left leg with sclerotherapy treatment. Here the condition has been visualised using thermal infrared which allows us to see thermal energy or radiation more commonly referred to as heat. Thermal Infrared is found within the Infrared region on the electromagnetic spectrum. The different colours in the images represent different levels of thermal energy being emitted from the skin's surface. In this image the red and white colours show a high level of thermal energy and the blue and purple a lower level. The affected veins are larger than normal and mis- shapen. The term is said to come from the Latin word for crooked which is 'varus'. The condition can be present from birth. It can also occur as a result of prolonged standing and women are susceptible to developing varicose veins during pregnancy. Varicose veins occur when the valves inside the vessel which controls the direction of blood flow stop working properly and cause blood to collect in the vein pushing it out of shape. Thermography is useful in illustrating the condition as the affected veins appear 'hotter' due to Thrombophlebitis (Vein Inflammation) associated with Varicose Veins.

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