Medical Gross Anatomy
Anatomy Tables - Veins
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Medical Gross Anatomy |
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Selected Veins of the Head and Neck - Listed Alphabetically |
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| Vein | Tributaries | Drains Into | Regions Drained | Notes |
| angular v. | supraorbital v., supratrochlear v. | facial vein at the inferior margin of the orbit | forehead; upper eyelid; root of the nose | angular v. is valveless; it connects with the superior and inferior ophthalmic vv. and can be a source of superficial infectious materials entering the cavernous sinus by this route |
| anterior jugular v. | submental v, communicating v. | external jugular v. | superficial parts of the anterior neck | anterior jugular v. is valveless |
| auricular, posterior | small veins of the subcutaneous tissues behind the ear, stylomastoid v. | it unites with the posterior division of the retromandibular v. to form the external jugular | region behind the ear | posterior auricular v. communicates with the occipital v. behind the ear |
| basilar venous plexus | superior and inferior petrosal sinuses | internal vertebral venous plexus | cavernous sinus | basilar venous plexus is variable; it communicates connects with other small intracranial sinuses that are located nearby |
| brachiocephalic v. | formed by the union of the subclavian v. and the internal jugular v.; tributaries: vertebral v., thymic v., inferior thyroid v., internal thoracic v., 1st posterior intercostal v., left superior intercostal v. (to the left brachiocephalic v.) | the left and right brachiocephalic vv. unite to form the superior vena cava | head; neck; upper limb; anterior chest wall | at its origin, the left brachiocephalic v. receives the thoracic duct; at its origin, the right brachiocephalic v. receives the right lymphatic duct |
| cavernous sinus | superior ophthalmic v., cerebral vv., sphenoparietal sinus | superior petrosal sinus, inferior petrosal sinus | orbit, brain | cavernous sinus lies between the cranial and meningeal layers of the dura mater beside the body of the sphenoid bone; cranial nn. III, IV and V1 are in its lateral wall; the internal carotid a. and cranial n. VI are in its lumen |
| cerebral, great | formed by the union of the paired internal cerebral vv. | straight sinus | deep portions of the cerebrum | great cerebral v. is a very short vessel |
| cerebral, inferior | tributaries are unnamed | cavernous sinus, transverse sinus, superior petrosal sinus | inferior aspect of the cerebral hemispheres | inferior cerebral vv. are numerous |
| cerebral, superior | tributaries are unnamed | superior sagittal sinus | superior aspect of the cerebral hemispheres | superior cerebral vv. bleed into the subdural space when injured, resulting in a subdural hematoma; also known as: bridging vv. |
| common facial | formed by the union of the anterior division of the retromandibular v. and the facial v. | internal jugular v. | face and anterior scalp | common facial v. may receive drainage from the lingual v. |
| confluens of sinuses | formed by the joining of the superior sagittal sinus, straight sinus and occipital sinus | transverse sinuses | all parts of the brain | confluens of sinuses lies on the inner surface of the occipital bone; it is between the layers of dura at the junction of the falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli |
| deep facial v. | facial v. | pterygoid venous plexus | face | deep facial v. is valveless |
| diploic vv. | multiple veins draining the diploe of the skull: frontal diploic, anterior temporal diploic, posterior temporal diploic, occipital diploic | meningeal vv.; dural venous sinuses; veins of the scalp | bones of the cranial vault | diploic vv. connect the venous system of the scalp with the dural sinuses and meningeal vv. |
| emissary vv. | veins of the scalp | veins of the scalp; dural venous sinuses | scalp | emissary vv. are valveless and can carry blood from superficial to deep or in the reverse direction depending on blood pressure; may carry superficial infectious materials into the dural venous sinuses; there are 4 named emissary vv.: parietal, mastoid, occipital and condyloid; superior ophthalmic v. also acts as an emissary v. |
| external jugular v. | formed by the joining of the retromandibular and posterior auricular vv.; tributaries: posterior external jugular v., transverse cervical v., suprascapular v., anterior jugular v. | subclavian v. | head & neck, shoulder | external jugular v. contains valves that may not be fully functional |
| facial, deep | facial v. | pterygoid venous plexus | face | deep facial v. is valveless |
| facial, common | formed by the union of the anterior division of the retromandibular v. and the facial v. | internal jugular v. | face and anterior scalp | common facial v. may receive drainage from the lingual v. |
| inferior ophthalmic v. | ciliary vv., veins from the muscles of the inferior part of the orbit | superior ophthalmic v. | inferior portion of the orbit | valveless; inferior ophthalmic v. connects with the pterygoid plexus through the inferior orbital fissure |
| inferior petrosal sinus | cavernous sinus | sigmoid sinus, at its distal end | all regions drained by the cavernous sinus, including the orbit and brain | inferior petrosal sinus lies within the dura mater along the inferior portion of the petrous part of the temporal bone |
| inferior sagittal sinus | unnamed tributaries from the falx cerebri and cerebral hemispheres | unites with the great cerebral v. to form the straight sinus | medial surfaces fo the cerebral hemispheres | inferior sagittal sinus is directly superior to the corpus callosum in the free margin of falx cerebri |
| inferior thyroid v. | numerous tributaries from the thyroid gland, esophageal v, tracheal v., inferior laryngeal v. | left and right brachiocephalic vv. | inferior part of the thyroid gland | inferior thyroid vv. descend on the anterior surface of the trachea |
| internal jugular v. | formed at the base of the skull where the sigmoid sinus ends; tributaries: pharyngeal vv.; lingual v., common facial v., sternocleidomastoid v., superior thyroid v, middle thyroid v. | brachiocephalic v. | brain, cranial cavity, skull, face, viscera of the neck | internal jugular is the largest vein of the nead and neck |
| jugular, anterior | submental v, communicating v. | external jugular v. | superficial parts of the anterior neck | anterior jugular v. is valveless |
| jugular, external | formed by the joining of the retromandibular and posterior auricular vv.; tributaries: posterior external jugular v., transverse cervical v., suprascapular v., anterior jugular v. | subclavian v. | head & neck, shoulder | external jugular v. contains valves that may not be fully functional |
| jugular, internal | formed at the base of the skull where the sigmoid sinus ends; tributaries: pharyngeal vv.; lingual v., common facial v., sternocleidomastoid v., superior thyroid v, middle thyroid v. | brachiocephalic v. | brain, cranial cavity, skull, face, viscera of the neck | internal jugular is the largest vein of the nead and neck |
| jugular, posterior external | unnamed veins of the occipital region and superior neck | external jugular v. | superficial parts of the posterior head and neck | posterior external jugular v. may join the external jugular v. at a variable level |
| middle thyroid v. | numerous tributaries from the thyroid gland | internal jugular v. | lateral aspect of the thyroid gland | middle thyroid v. crosses superficial to the common carotid a. |
| occipital sinus | no named tributaries | confluens of sinuses | cerebellum | lies within the dura mater at the base of the falx cerebelli |
| ophthalmic, inferior | ciliary vv., veins from the muscles of the inferior part of the orbit | superior ophthalmic v. | inferior portion of the orbit | valveless; inferior ophthalmic v. connects with the pterygoid plexus through the inferior orbital fissure |
| ophthalmic, superior | nasofrontal v., anterior ethmoidal v., posterior ethmoidal v., ciliary vv., central retinal v., lacrimal v., inferior ophthalmic v. | cavernous sinus | eyeball, superior portion of the orbit, ethmoidal air cells, forehead | valveless; superior ophthalmic v. communicates with the angular v. |
| petrosal sinus, inferior | cavernous sinus | sigmoid sinus, at its distal end | all regions drained by the cavernous sinus, including the orbit and brain | inferior petrosal sinus lies within the dura mater along the inferior portion of the petrous part of the temporal bone |
| petrosal sinus, superior | cavernous sinus | sigmoid sinus, at its proximal end | all regions drained by the cavernous sinus, including the orbit and brain | superior petrosal sinus lies on the petrous ridge within the dura mater at the line of attachment of the tentorium cerebelli |
| pharyngeal venous plexus | unnamed tributaries that drain the pharyngeal wall | internal jugular | pharynx | connects with the pterygoid venous plexus |
| plexus, basilar venous | superior and inferior petrosal sinuses | internal vertebral venous plexus | cavernous sinus | basilar venous plexus is variable; it communicates connects with other small intracranial sinuses that are located nearby |
| plexus, pharyngeal venous | unnamed tributaries that drain the pharyngeal wall | internal jugular | pharynx | connects with the pterygoid venous plexus |
| plexus, pterygoid venous | descending palatine v., sphenopalatine v., infraorbital v., posterior superior alveolar v., anterior deep temporal v., posterior deep temporal v., middle meningeal v., masseteric v., inferior alveolar v. | maxillary v. | meninges, nasal cavity, infratemporal fossa | valveless; the pterygoid plexus is connected with the cavernous sinus and the pharyngeal venous plexus |
| plexus, vertebral venous, external | intervertebral vv. | adjacent segmental vv.; vertebral v. in the cervical region | vertebral column and associated muscles | two plexuses are described: anterior and posterior; connects with the internal vertebral venous plexus |
| plexus, vertebral venous, internal | anterior and posterior longitudinal vertebral sinuses | adjacent segmental vv. | spinal cord, meninges, vertebral column | connects with the external vertebral venous plexuses; valveless; a route for potential spread of metastases from the pelvis to the brain |
| posterior auricular v. | small veins of the subcutaneous tissues behind the ear, stylomastoid v. | it unites with the posterior division of the retromandibular v. to form the external jugular | region behind the ear | posterior auricular v. communicates with the occipital v. behind the ear |
| posterior external jugular v. | unnamed veins of the occipital region and superior neck | external jugular v. | superficial parts of the posterior head and neck | posterior external jugular v. may join the external jugular v. at a variable level |
| retromandibular v. | formed by the union of the superficial temporal v. and maxillary v. | anterior and posterior divisions of the retromandibular v. | side of the head and scalp; deep face | retromandibular v. is contained within the parotid gland; anterior division unites with the facial v. to form the common facial v.; posterior division unites with the posterior auricular v. to form the external jugular v. |
| sigmoid sinus | transverse sinus, superior petrosal sinus | internal jugular v. | brain; meninges | sigmoid sinus lies within the sigmoid groove covered by dura mater |
| sinus, cavernous | superior ophthalmic v., cerebral vv., sphenoparietal sinus | superior petrosal sinus, inferior petrosal sinus | orbit, brain | cavernous sinus lies between the cranial and meningeal layers of the dura mater beside the body of the sphenoid bone; cranial nn. III, IV and V1 are in its lateral wall; the internal carotid a. and cranial n. VI are in its lumen |
| sinus, inferior petrosal | cavernous sinus | sigmoid sinus, at its distal end | all regions drained by the cavernous sinus, including the orbit and brain | inferior petrosal sinus lies within the dura mater along the inferior portion of the petrous part of the temporal bone |
| sinus, inferior sagittal | unnamed tributaries from the falx cerebri and cerebral hemispheres | unites with the great cerebral v. to form the straight sinus | medial surfaces fo the cerebral hemispheres | inferior sagittal sinus is directly superior to the corpus callosum in the free margin of falx cerebri |
| sinus, occipital | no named tributaries | confluens of sinuses | cerebellum | lies within the dura mater at the base of the falx cerebelli |
| sinus, sigmoid | transverse sinus, superior petrosal sinus | internal jugular v. | brain; meninges | sigmoid sinus lies within the sigmoid groove covered by dura mater |
| sinus, straight | inferior sagittal sinus, great cerebral vein, superior cerebellar vv. | confluens of sinuses | deep parts of the cerebrum, cerebellum | straight sinus lies within the junction of the falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli; also known as: sinus rectus |
| sinus, superior petrosal | cavernous sinus | sigmoid sinus, at its proximal end | all regions drained by the cavernous sinus, including the orbit and brain | superior petrosal sinus lies on the petrous ridge within the dura mater at the line of attachment of the tentorium cerebelli |
| sinus, superior sagittal | v. of the foramen cecum; superior cerebral vv. | confluens of sinuses | cerebral hemispheres | superior sagittal sinus occupies the superior part of the falx cerebri; lateral lacunae receive grossly visible arachnoid granulations |
| sinus, transverse | confluens of sinuses, inferior cerebral vv. | sigmoid sinus | brain | lies within the line of attachment of the tentorium cerebelli to the inner surface of the calvaria |
| sinuses, confluens of | formed by the joining of the superior sagittal sinus, straight sinus and occipital sinus | transverse sinuses | all parts of the brain | confluens of sinuses lies on the inner surface of the occipital bone; it is between the layers of dura at the junction of the falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli |
| straight sinus | inferior sagittal sinus, great cerebral vein, superior cerebellar vv. | confluens of sinuses | deep parts of the cerebrum, cerebellum | straight sinus lies within the junction of the falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli; also known as: sinus rectus |
| superior ophthalmic v. | nasofrontal v., anterior ethmoidal v., posterior ethmoidal v., ciliary vv., central retinal v., lacrimal v., inferior ophthalmic v. | cavernous sinus | eyeball, superior portion of the orbit, ethmoidal air cells, forehead | valveless; superior ophthalmic v. communicates with the angular v. |
| superior petrosal sinus | cavernous sinus | sigmoid sinus, at its proximal end | all regions drained by the cavernous sinus, including the orbit and brain | superior petrosal sinus lies on the petrous ridge within the dura mater at the line of attachment of the tentorium cerebelli |
| superior sagittal sinus | v. of the foramen cecum; superior cerebral vv. | confluens of sinuses | cerebral hemispheres | superior sagittal sinus occupies the superior part of the falx cerebri; lateral lacunae receive grossly visible arachnoid granulations |
| thyroid, inferior | numerous tributaries from the thyroid gland, esophageal v, tracheal v., inferior laryngeal v. | left and right brachiocephalic vv. | inferior part of the thyroid gland | inferior thyroid vv. descend on the anterior surface of the trachea |
| thyroid, middle | numerous tributaries from the thyroid gland | internal jugular v. | lateral aspect of the thyroid gland | middle thyroid v. crosses superficial to the common carotid a. |
| thyroid, superior | sternocleidomastoid v., superior laryngeal v., infrahyoid v., cricothyroid v. | internal jugular v. | superior portion of the thyroid gland and surrounding structures | superior thyroid v. is the only thyroid v. to accompany an artery; it crosses superficial to the common carotid a. |
| thyroidea ima v. | formed by a high union of the right and left inferior thyroid vv. | left brachiocephalic vein | inferior part of the thyroid gland | an occasional branch; a midline structure which is in danger during tracheostomy |
| transverse sinus | confluens of sinuses, inferior cerebral vv. | sigmoid sinus | brain | lies within the line of attachment of the tentorium cerebelli to the inner surface of the calvaria |
| vena comitans nervi hypoglossi | no named tributaries | lingual v. | tongue | vena comitans nervi hypoglossi accompanies CN XII |
| vertebral venous plexus, external | intervertebral vv. | adjacent segmental vv.; vertebral v. in the cervical region | vertebral column and associated muscles | two plexuses are described: anterior and posterior; connects with the internal vertebral venous plexus |
| vertebral venous plexus, internal | anterior and posterior longitudinal vertebral sinuses | adjacent segmental vv. | spinal cord, meninges, vertebral column | connects with the external vertebral venous plexuses; valveless; a route for potential spread of metastases from the pelvis to the brain |
| The material presented in these tables is
contained in the book: MedCharts Anatomy by Thomas R. Gest & Jaye Schlesinger Published by ILOC, Inc., New York Copyright © 1995, unauthorized use prohibited. |
The excellent editorial assistance of Dr. Pat Tank, UAMS is gratefully acknowledged. |
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| Copyright© 2000 The University of Michigan. Unauthorized use prohibited. |
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