Veins

Superficial veins

Visible veins used to withdraw blood or inject medications.

Deep veins

Veins that travel with arteries and share their names.

Coronary Sinus

Drains cardiac veins from myocardium.

What does the Superior Vena Cava drain blood from?

Veins above the diaphragm.

What are the two main veins that form the Superior Vena Cava?

Left and right brachiocephalic veins.

What is the diameter of the Superior Vena Cava?

2 cm.

Into which chamber of the heart does the Superior Vena Cava empty?

Right atrium.

What is the function of the Inferior Vena Cava?

Drains blood from veins below the diaphragm.

What is the diameter of the Inferior Vena Cava?

3.5 cm

Where does the Inferior Vena Cava begin?

At L5

Where does the Inferior Vena Cava travel in relation to the midline?

Right of midline

What anatomical structure does the Inferior Vena Cava pierce?

Caval opening

Which arteries drain into the Inferior Vena Cava?

Left and right common iliac arteries

What condition can commonly compress the Inferior Vena Cava during pregnancy?

Swollen hands and feet

Coronary Sinus

Main vein of heart, found in the coronary sulcus on the posterior wall of the right atrium.

Coronary Sinus Function

Opens into the right atrium.

Coronary Sinus Drainage

Drains blood from Great Cardiac Vein.

Azygous system

What drains most of the thorax?

The Azygous System

Where does the Azygous System empty?

Into the Superior Vena Cava (SVC)

What is the importance of the Azygous System?

It provides an alternate means of venous return when there is a blockage in the Inferior Vena Cava or Hepatic Portal Vein.

Which veins drain into the Azygous System?

Many of the lower body veins

How does blood from the lower body return to the heart?

Via the Superior Vena Cava through the Azygous System.

Azygous Vein

Begins below diaphragm, created by junction of right ascending lumbar & subcostal veins, travels up right side of vertebral bodies to enter SVC.

Hemiazygous Vein

Begins below diaphragm, created by junction of left ascending lumbar & subcostal veins, travels up left side of vertebral bodies to enter the azygous vein (~T9).

Accessory Hemiazygous Vein

Begins in left upper quadrant and travels down to the level of ~T8 to enter azygous vein.

Function of Azygous Vein

Drains right thorax, thoracic viscera, posterior abdomen.

Function of Hemiazygous Vein

Drains left lower thorax, thoracic organs, left posterior abdominal wall.

Function of Accessory Hemiazygous Vein

Drains left upper thoracic wall, thoracic organs.

Hepatic Portal Circulation

Blood draining from most abdominal organs passes through the liver first before entering the IVC.

What veins drain into the IVC from the diaphragm?

Inferior Phrenic Veins

What veins drain into the IVC from the liver?

Hepatic Veins

What veins drain into the IVC from the posterior abdominal wall?

Lumbar Veins

What veins drain into the IVC from the adrenal glands?

Suprarenal Veins

What veins drain into the IVC from the kidneys?

Renal Veins

What veins drain into the IVC from the ovaries and testes?

Gonadal Veins

What veins drain into the IVC from the pelvis and lower limbs?

Common Iliac Veins

What do hepatic veins drain blood from?

Liver sinusoids

What does the hepatic portal vein drain blood from?

Left & Right Gastric veins, Splenic vein, Superior Mesenteric vein, Inferior Mesenteric vein

What does the left & right gastric veins drain?

Esophagus, stomach, duodenum

What does the splenic vein drain?

Stomach, spleen, pancreas, greater omentum

What does the superior mesenteric vein drain?

Small intestine, cecum, appendix, ascending & transverse colon

What does the inferior mesenteric vein drain?

Transverse colon, descending & sigmoid colon, rectum

Where do the Right Suprarenal, Renal, and Gonadal veins drain?

They drain directly into the Inferior Vena Cava (IVC).

Where do the Left Suprarenal and Gonadal veins drain?

They drain into the Left Renal vein.

Where does the Left Renal vein drain?

It drains into the Inferior Vena Cava (IVC).

What is Nutcracker Syndrome?

It is caused by compression of the left renal vein between the Superior Mesenteric Artery and the aorta.

What are the components that create the Common Iliac veins?

The Common Iliac veins are created by the union of Internal Iliac veins and External Iliac veins.

What do the Internal Iliac veins drain?

The Internal Iliac veins drain the pelvic muscles, gluteals, pelvic organs, and genitalia.

What do the External Iliac veins drain?

The External Iliac veins drain the lower abdominal wall, cremaster muscle, external genitalia, and lower limbs.

What are the bronchial veins responsible for?

Bronchial veins drain the bronchi of the lungs and lung tissue.

What do esophageal veins drain?

Esophageal veins drain the esophagus.

What do mediastinal veins drain?

Mediastinal veins drain mediastinal structures.

What do intercostal veins drain?

Intercostal veins drain intercostal and chest muscles.

What do pericardial veins drain?

Pericardial veins drain the pericardium.

What do superior phrenic veins drain?

Superior phrenic veins drain the diaphragm.

What are bronchial arteries responsible for?

Bronchial arteries supply blood to the bronchi of the lungs and lung tissue.

What do esophageal arteries supply?

Esophageal arteries supply blood to the esophagus.

What do mediastinal arteries supply?

Mediastinal arteries supply blood to mediastinal structures.

What do intercostal arteries supply?

Intercostal arteries supply blood to intercostal and chest muscles.

What do pericardial arteries supply?

Pericardial arteries supply blood to the pericardium.

What do superior phrenic arteries supply?

Superior phrenic arteries supply blood to the diaphragm.

What do the Brachiocephalic veins consist of?

Union of Subclavian veins and Internal Jugular veins

Which Brachiocephalic vein is shorter and more vertical?

The right Brachiocephalic vein

What do the Brachiocephalic veins join to form?

Superior Vena Cava

What do the internal jugular veins drain?

Most of the blood from the brain, meninges, bones of the cranium, muscles, and tissues of the face and neck.

Where do the internal jugular veins exit the skull?

Via the jugular foramen.

From which structures do the internal jugular veins receive blood?

Dural Venous Sinuses.

← Superior Sagittal Sinus

← Inferior Sagittal Sinus

← Straight Sinus

← Transverse Sinuses

← Sigmoid Sinuses

← Cavernous Sinuses

What do the Subclavian Veins drain?

Most of the blood from the arms, shoulders, neck, and superior thoracic wall.

Where do the Subclavian Veins travel in relation to the clavicles?

They travel deep to the clavicles as the continuation of the Axillary Veins.

Which ducts enter the Subclavian veins?

The Thoracic Duct and Right Lymphatic Duct enter the left and right Subclavian veins respectively.

What veins drain into the Subclavian Veins from the shoulder and upper limb?

Axillary Veins.

What do the External Jugular Veins drain?

Scalp, skin of head and neck, and muscles of face and neck.

What do the Vertebral Veins drain?

Cervical spine and deep muscles of the neck.

What is the first deep vein of the upper limb?

Subclavian vein

What vein is located in the shoulder region and superolateral chest wall?

Axillary vein

Which deep veins are associated with the elbow and brachium?

Brachial veins

What deep vein drains the medial forearm?

Ulnar veins

What structure is formed by the superficial palmar venous arches?

Hands

What veins drain the fingers?

Common & proper palmar digital veins

What deep vein drains the lateral forearm?

Radial veins

What structure is formed by the deep palmar venous arches?

Hands

What veins drain the lateral hands?

Palmar metacarpal veins

What is the main vein that drains the upper limb?

Subclavian vein

What vein drains the skin and superficial muscles of the lateral upper limb?

Cephalic vein

What network drains the skin and superficial muscles of the hands and fingers?

Dorsal venous network of hand

What veins drain the hands?

Dorsal metacarpal veins

What veins drain the fingers?

Dorsal digital veins

What vein drains the skin and superficial muscles of the medial upper limb?

Basilic vein

What veins travel through the anterior forearm to the basilic vein?

Median antebrachial veins (median veins of forearm)

What plexus is found in the hands?

Palmar venous plexus

What veins drain the fingers on the palmar side?

Palmar digital veins

What is the dorsal venous network of the hand?

A network of veins located in the skin and superficial muscles of the hands and fingers.

What are dorsal metacarpal veins?

Veins that drain the hands.

What are dorsal digital veins?

Veins that drain the fingers.

Where does the median cubital vein cross?

The cubital fossa

Which veins does the median cubital vein join?

The Cephalic and Basilic veins

What is a common use for the median cubital vein?

Injection, transfusion, or removal of blood sample

What is the main vein that drains the pelvis, genitalia, and lower limbs?

Inferior Vena Cava

At what vertebral level is the Inferior Vena Cava formed?

~L5