Vena poplitea, also known as the popliteal vein, is a vital blood vessel located in the leg that runs behind the knee joint. This vein functions to carry deoxygenated blood from the lower leg, ankle, and foot, back to the heart. There are several synonyms for the term vena poplitea, including the posterior tibial vein, fibular vein, and sural vein. These veins function similarly, aiding in the return of blood from the lower leg, but they may be located in different areas of the leg or have different branching patterns. These synonyms are important to know and understand in the medical field to accurately identify and diagnose possible vein-related issues.