30 articles
Absence of innominate vein
Absence of innominate vein is a rare congenital anomaly in which the left brachiocephalic vein is absent, usually asymptomatic and typically found incidentally on imaging or during surgery.
Azygos vein
The azygos vein is the unpaired vein of the right posterior thorax that drains the thoracic wall, arches over the right main bronchus, and empties into the superior vena cava.
Basilic vein
Basilic vein (vena basilica): large superficial vein of the arm, arising from the ulnar dorsal venous network, joining the brachial veins to form the axillary vein; preferred site for PICC and midline catheters and used for hemodialysis fistulas.
Cavernous sinus
Cavernous sinus: paired dural venous sinus beside the sella turcica containing the internal carotid artery and cranial nerves III, IV, V1, V2, VI; drains ophthalmic and cerebral veins to the petrosal sinuses.
Danger triangle of the face
The danger triangle of the face, also called the nasolabial triangle, spans from the nose bridge to the mouth corners, where infections can spread to the brain.
Direct tributaries of the portal vein
The direct tributaries of the portal vein are the left and right gastric, cystic, and paraumbilical veins, which join the hepatic portal vein itself rather than its large forming trunks.
Dorsal veins of the penis
Dorsal veins of the penis: the superficial and deep dorsal veins, midline vessels draining the penile skin, glans, and corpora; deep vein empties into the prostatic venous plexus, with additional cavernosal and para-arterial veins described.
Esophageal varices
Oesophageal varices are dilated submucosal veins of the lower oesophagus caused by portal hypertension, usually cirrhosis; they form above an HVPG of 10 mmHg, affect most cirrhosis patients within 10 years, and are treated with beta-blockers, band ligation, and TIPS.
Femoral vein
Femoral vein (vena femoralis), formerly misnamed superficial femoral vein: the deep thigh vein continuing the popliteal vein through the adductor hiatus to become the external iliac vein; drains the lower limb, has one to six valves, and is a standard catheter access site.
Great saphenous vein
Great saphenous vein (GSV), vena saphena magna: the largest superficial leg vein, from dorsal venous arch to femoral vein. Key for varicose vein reflux treatment and as the most-used coronary bypass conduit.
Hemiazygos vein
The hemiazygos vein, also called the inferior hemiazygos vein, is an unpaired left-sided chest vein that drains the lower posterior chest and abdominal wall and empties into the azygos vein.
Hepatic portal system
Hepatic portal system (portal venous system): veins draining the stomach, intestines, pancreas, spleen, and gallbladder into the hepatic portal vein, which supplies about 75% of liver blood flow before blood returns to the inferior vena cava.
Inferior mesenteric vein
The inferior mesenteric vein, or vena mesenterica inferior, is the vein draining the left colon and upper rectum into the portal system, most often through the splenic vein.
Inferior vena cava
Inferior vena cava (IVC), vena cava inferior: the largest vein below the diaphragm, formed by the common iliac veins, carrying lower-body blood to the heart; site of IVC filters (PREPIC, PREPIC2) and ultrasound fluid assessment.
Internal jugular vein
Internal jugular vein (vena jugularis interna): paired carotid-sheath vein draining skull, brain, face, and neck to the brachiocephalic vein; JVP window and central access site with higher infection but fewer malpositions than subclavian.
Internal thoracic vein
Internal thoracic vein (vena thoracica interna, internal mammary vein): paired chest wall vein draining breast, pericardium, diaphragm, and anterior thorax into the brachiocephalic veins; often double, with xiphoid venous arch, used in flap reconstruction.
Jugular vein
Jugular veins: paired neck veins draining the head and neck. Internal jugular runs in the carotid sheath from the jugular foramen to the brachiocephalic vein; external jugular is superficial. Used for central access and JVP assessment.
Left superior caval vein
Left superior caval vein (persistent left superior vena cava, PLSVC): the most common thoracic venous anomaly, a left-sided SVC draining via the coronary sinus, present in about 0.6% of people and up to 10% of congenital heart disease patients.
Portal vein
Portal vein (hepatic portal vein): large vein formed by the splenic and superior mesenteric veins, carrying about 75% of liver blood flow; divides into right and left branches, with variants in 20–35% of people, and prone to portal vein thrombosis.
Pulmonary vein
Pulmonary veins: typically four vessels (right/left superior and inferior) carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium; sites of atrial fibrillation origin, congenital anomalies like TAPVR, and post-ablation stenosis.
Renal vein
The renal vein, known in Latin as vena renalis, drains each kidney into the inferior vena cava; the left vein is much longer than the right.
Splenic vein
Splenic vein: large abdominal vein formed at the splenic hilum, draining spleen, pancreas, and stomach; joins the superior mesenteric vein behind the pancreatic neck to form the portal vein; key diseases are splenic vein thrombosis and left-sided portal hypertension.
Superior mesenteric vein
Superior mesenteric vein (SMV): large abdominal vein draining the small intestine, right colon, pancreas, stomach, and appendix; runs right of the superior mesenteric artery and joins the splenic vein behind the pancreas to form the portal vein.
Superior vena cava
Superior vena cava (SVC): the largest central systemic vein, draining upper-body blood to the right atrium; formed by brachiocephalic veins, joined by the azygos vein; obstruction causes SVC syndrome, treated by stenting.
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS): an interventional radiology procedure creating a stent channel between portal and hepatic veins to treat portal hypertension complications; first done in Freiburg, 1988; ePTFE-covered stents outperform bare stents.
Umbilical vein
The umbilical vein is the single cord vessel carrying oxygenated placental blood to the fetus; normally the left of two embryonic veins, it becomes the ligamentum teres after birth and supports neonatal catheterization.
Vein
Vein: blood vessel returning blood to the heart; pulmonary veins carry oxygen-rich blood. Holds about 70-75% of blood volume, has one-way valves, thin three-layered walls, and was central to Harvey's 1628 circulation discovery.
Venous Pressure
Venous pressure is the blood pressure within the veins, also called venous blood pressure, assessed as central venous pressure, jugular venous pressure, or ambulatory leg venous pressure to gauge cardiac filling, fluid responsiveness, and venous disease.
Vertebral venous plexuses
The vertebral venous plexuses, known as the Batson plexus after Oscar V. Batson, are valveless extradural veins around the spinal column that drain the spinal cord and vertebrae.
Vitelline veins
Vitelline veins, or omphalomesenteric veins, are paired embryonic veins from the yolk sac to the sinus venosus; their selective involution forms the portal vein, splenic and mesenteric veins, and part of the inferior vena cava.