What causes venous leg ulcers?
Most of venous leg ulcers occur because the valves connecting the superficial and deep veins are not functioning properly. The venous system is made up of superficial and deep veins: • superficial veins are located between the skin and the muscles • deep veins are located between the muscles. Superficial and deep vein systems are connected to each other by veins that have one-way valves. These valves normally ensure that blood flows from the superficial veins to the deep system. Failure of these valves causes blood to flow from the deep veins back out to the superficial ones – a major cause of varicose veins. When you walk or exercise, the calf muscles push venous blood back to the heart.
