The greater saphenous vein and a variable number of tributaries are the only structures of consequence in the superficial fascia of the thigh. The course of the greater saphenous vein can be approximated by a line running from a point 8 to 10 cm posterior to the medial side of the patella to a second point that is level with, and 4 cm lateral to, the pubic tubercle. Note that, in the thigh, the larger veins of this system are in a plane between two layers of superficial fascia. Frequently, a large communicating branch between the lesser and greater saphenous veins ascends obliquely around the medial side of the thigh; other large tributaries join the greater saphenous vein on its anterolateral side. One fairly common variant of the greater saphenous system that would necessitate additional vein ligations is duplication of the greater saphenous vein in the more distal part of the thigh. When such duplication occurs, one of the vessels is typically deeper than the other, although both are still within the superficial fascia.

The deep fascia of the thigh, or fascia lata, is not of equal thickness throughout. It is thicker proximally and especially laterally, where it is reinforced by the iliotibial tract, which is actually the long, flat tendon of insertion (to the lateral condyle of the tibia) of the tensor fascia lata and most of the gluteus maximus. In addition, the fascia lata is thickened distally about the knee joint, where it is reinforced by fibrous expansions from the biceps femoris muscle laterally, the sartorius muscle medially, and the quadriceps femoris muscle anteriorly.