Venous System – Lecture Review

A comprehensive set of question-and-answer flashcards covering definitions, major veins, their formations, tributaries, special venous systems, and clinical correlations from the venous system lecture.

What vessels return blood to the heart?

Veins.

Which two types of veins carry oxygenated blood instead of deoxygenated blood?

Pulmonary veins and umbilical veins.

How are superficial veins positioned relative to the body surface, and do they have matching arteries?

They lie close to the surface and have no corresponding arteries.

Where are deep veins located and what do they accompany?

Deep within the body, accompanying corresponding arteries.

Name the two great veins that drain the systemic circulation.

Superior vena cava (SVC) and inferior vena cava (IVC).

Which vein drains the portal circulation?

The hepatic portal vein.

Which two veins unite to form the superior vena cava?

The right and left brachiocephalic veins.

Which veins unite to create each brachiocephalic vein?

Internal jugular vein and subclavian vein.

What body regions are drained by the superior vena cava?

Head and neck, thoracic wall, and upper limbs.

At which vertebral level does the azygos vein join the SVC?

T4 (the level of the sternal angle).

What are the two superficial veins of the head and neck?

External jugular veins and anterior jugular veins.

From which structures does the external jugular vein drain blood?

Scalp, parotid gland, and facial muscles.

Which two veins unite to form the jugular arch?

The two anterior jugular veins.

Which deep vein drains the brain, face, and neck?

Internal jugular vein.

Name four tributaries of the internal jugular vein (any four).

Superior thyroid, lingual, facial, occipital veins (also dural venous sinuses).

What are the two divisions of veins in the upper limb?

Superficial veins and deep veins.

Which superficial vein ascends on the lateral side of the biceps and drains into the axillary vein?

Cephalic vein.

Which superficial vein ascends on the medial side of the biceps and joins the brachial veins to form the axillary vein?

Basilic vein.

Which vein crosses the cubital fossa obliquely and is a common site for venipuncture?

Median cubital vein.

What are venae comitantes in the upper limb?

Paired deep veins that accompany major arteries such as brachial, ulnar, and radial arteries.

Which two veins unite to form the axillary vein?

Basilic vein and the venae comitantes of the brachial artery.

At what vertebral level do the common iliac veins unite to form the inferior vena cava?

L5 (5th lumbar vertebra).

Through which opening and at what vertebral level does the IVC pierce the diaphragm?

The caval opening in the central tendon at T8.

Name three paired tributaries of the inferior vena cava.

Lumbar veins, renal veins, inferior phrenic veins (also suprarenal veins).

Which gonadal vein drains directly into the IVC?

Right gonadal (testicular/ovarian) vein.

Which system provides collateral circulation between the SVC and IVC?

The azygos system of veins.

Which veins form the azygos vein?

Right ascending lumbar vein and right subcostal vein.

Which veins drain into the accessory hemiazygos vein?

4th to 8th left posterior intercostal veins.

Which veins unite to form the hemiazygos vein?

Left ascending lumbar vein and left subcostal vein (receives 9th–11th intercostal veins).

What are the two major superficial veins of the lower limb?

Great (long) saphenous vein and small (short) saphenous vein.

Where does the great saphenous vein begin and where does it terminate?

Begins at the medial end of the dorsal venous arch of the foot; drains into the femoral vein via the saphenous opening.

Which superficial lower-limb vein is commonly harvested for coronary artery bypass grafting?

Great saphenous vein.

Into which deep vein does the small saphenous vein drain?

Popliteal vein.

What mechanism propels blood upward in the deep veins of the leg?

Contraction of the calf muscles (calf pump) assisted by competent perforating vein valves.

Why do varicose veins develop in the lower limb?

Incompetent perforating vein valves reverse blood flow, dilating superficial veins.

Which two veins unite to form the hepatic portal vein?

Superior mesenteric vein and splenic vein.

Just before entering the liver, into what two branches does the portal vein divide?

Right and left portal branches.

Name two tributaries (besides SMV & splenic) that empty into the portal vein.

Gastric veins and cystic veins.

What is a portocaval (porto-systemic) anastomosis?

A connection between portal and systemic veins that enlarges when portal hypertension occurs.

Which veins anastomose at the lower end of the esophagus in a portocaval anastomosis?

Left gastric veins (portal) with azygos veins (systemic).

Which veins are involved in the portocaval anastomosis at the anal canal?

Superior rectal vein (portal) with middle and inferior rectal veins (systemic).

Which veins participate in the para-umbilical portocaval anastomosis?

Para-umbilical veins (portal) with superficial epigastric veins (systemic).

What retroperitoneal portocaval anastomosis occurs around the colon?

Veins draining the colon (portal) anastomose with veins of the posterior abdominal wall (systemic).