Veins of the Human Body: Anatomy and Function
Azygos Vein
Azygos vein: It is formed in the thoracic cavity at the height of the 11th right intercostal space by the fusion of 2 medial and lateral branches. The lateral branch is formed by the union of the ascending lumbar vein and the right subcostal vein; the medial branch comes from the inferior vena cava or the right kidney vein. It empties into the posterior wall of the superior vena cava. Branches: It receives direct branches from the right posterior intercostal veins IV to XI (receiving a dorsal branch and a branch cord and intervertebral vein). It drains the right superior intercostal vein, hemiazygos vein, accessory hemiazygos vein, esophageal vein, right bronchial vein, pericardial vein, and superior mediastinal phrenic vein.
Hemiazygos Vein
Hemiazygos vein: originates from 2 branches: One side: union of the ascending lumbar vein and the left subcostal vein. A medial branch: left kidney vein. It empties into the azygos vein. Branches: It receives the left posterior intercostal veins VIII or IX to XI and the esophageal and mediastinal veins.
Vertebral Venous Plexus
Vertebral Venous Plexus: This forms veins that drain the spinal column and associated muscles. It receives blood from the spinal cord and intervertebral veins drained by the posterior intercostal vein, subcostal vein, lumbar vein, iliolumbar vein, and lateral sacral vein.
Inferior Vena Cava
Inferior Vena Cava: Returns the blood from the infradiaphragmatic body to the right atrium. It is formed by the union of the 2 common iliac veins at the level of L5.
Branches: Receives the inferior phrenic vein, lumbar vein, hepatic vein, kidney vein, right adrenal vein, and right gonadal vein.
Vena Porta
Vena Porta: It leads venous blood from the subdiaphragmatic portion of the digestive tract to the liver, is divided into 2 branches: left and right. Branches: Cystic vein, paraumbilical vein, left and right gastric veins, and prepyloric vein.
Superior Mesenteric Vein
Superior mesenteric vein: Receives blood from the intestine, right and transverse colon. Branches: Receives jejunal and ileal veins, right gastroepiploic vein, pancreatic veins, pancreaticoduodenal vein, and the ileocolic vein.
Splenic Vein
Splenic vein: Born in the hilus of the spleen. Branches: Receives pancreatic branches, gastric vein, left gastroepiploic vein, and inferior mesenteric vein.
Inferior Mesenteric Vein
Inferior mesenteric vein: Receives the blood of the left colon and rectum. Branches: Receives the left colic and sigmoid veins.
Common Iliac Vein
Common iliac vein: The union is formed of the external and internal iliac veins, in front of the sacroiliac joint. The right iliac vein is more common than the left. Branches: Receives the iliolumbar vein and lateral sacral vein. The left iliac vein also drains the middle sacral vein.
Internal Iliac Vein (Hypogastric)
Internal iliac vein or hypogastric: Bulky and short. Branches: Superior and inferior gluteal veins, obturator vein, lateral sacral vein, middle rectal vein, vesical veins, uterine vein, and internal pudendal vein.
External Iliac Vein
External iliac vein: Receives blood from the leg and the lower anterior abdominal wall. It is a continuation of the femoral vein. Branches: Inferior epigastric vein and deep circumflex iliac vein.
Lower Limb Veins
Lower limb veins: is divided into superficial and deep.
Superficial Veins
Superficial: Begin in the plantar and dorsal foot. The dorsal digital veins of the foot receive the plantar digital veins, these unite to form the dorsal metatarsal veins, which form the dorsal venous arch of the foot (above which is the dorsal venous network of the foot), the latter drains into the marginal vein. The sole arch goes to find the plantar venous network.
Great Saphenous Vein
Great saphenous vein: is the vein of greater length of the body, originates from the medial margin of the foot, resulting in the femoral vein. Branches: Receives tributaries of the plantar and dorsal foot. In the leg it receives cutaneous veins, the deep veins anastomoses and the small saphenous vein. In the femur it receives: the accessory saphenous vein. The saphenous opening receives: the superficial epigastric vein, superficial circumflex iliac vein and external pudendal vein.
Deep Veins
Deep: There are 2 for each artery with the exception of the popliteal and femoral. Branches: The popliteal vein forms the union of the anterior and posterior tibial veins. The anterior tibial veins continue as concomitant veins of the dorsal foot. The posterior tibial veins continue the medial and lateral plantar veins (out of the deep plantar venous arch, which receives digital and plantar metatarsal veins) and drain the fibular vein. They continue as the femoral vein and receive the genicular vein and the small saphenous vein.
Femoral Vein
Femoral Vein: Accompanies the femoral artery medially in the femoral trigone. Branches: Receives the great saphenous vein and its tributaries, external pudendal vein, superficial circumflex iliac vein, superficial epigastric vein, dorsal vein of the penis or clitoris, scrotal or anterior labial vein, accessory saphenous vein, and deep femoral vein.