Veins — table

Course, tributaries and drainage of the major veins. 30 entries.

Heart — coronary circulation 4

Vein	Course	Tributaries	Drains
Coronary sinus	—	The great cardiac vein (its continuation), the posterior vein of the left ventricle, the oblique vein of the left atrium, the middle cardiac vein and the small cardiac vein.	Returns most cardiac venous blood to the right atrium.; Provides a route for transvenous access to the left ventricle.
Great cardiac vein	It runs from the apex up the anterior interventricular groove and then around the left AV groove to the back of the heart, where it becomes the coronary sinus.	—	Drains the anterior and lateral left ventricle, the anterior septum and the left atrium.
Middle cardiac vein	It runs from the apex up the posterior interventricular groove to the end of the coronary sinus.	—	Drains the inferior (diaphragmatic) walls of both ventricles and the posterior septum.
Small cardiac vein	It runs from the acute (inferior) margin of the heart along the right AV groove to the coronary sinus.	—	Drains the posterior right atrium and the inferior margin of the right ventricle.

Great vessels 3

Vein	Course	Tributaries	Drains
Pulmonary veins	—	Intersegmental and intrasegmental veins of the lungs, the visceral pleura and some bronchial veins.	Return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left heart.; Act as a reservoir of blood for the left ventricle.
Superior vena cava	—	The right and left brachiocephalic veins, the azygos vein and small pericardial and mediastinal veins.	Returns venous blood from the upper body to the right atrium (about one-third of total venous return at rest).
Inferior vena cava	—	The common iliac veins, the 3rd and 4th lumbar veins, the right gonadal vein, the renal veins, the right suprarenal vein, the inferior phrenic veins and the hepatic veins.	Returns about two-thirds of total venous return, from the lower body, to the right atrium.

Veins — head, neck & thorax 6

Vein	Course	Tributaries	Drains
Dural venous sinuses	—	—	Drain venous blood from the brain, meninges, skull and orbit to the internal jugular veins.; Return cerebrospinal fluid to the blood through the arachnoid granulations.
Internal jugular vein	—	The inferior petrosal sinus, and the facial, lingual, pharyngeal, superior thyroid and middle thyroid veins. The occipital vein drains into it occasionally.	Drains the brain (through the dural sinuses), the face and the neck.; Gives a window onto right atrial pressure: the jugular venous pressure (JVP).
External jugular vein	—	The posterior external jugular, transverse cervical, suprascapular and anterior jugular veins.	Drains the scalp, the side of the face and the superficial structures of the neck.
Subclavian vein	—	The external jugular vein, sometimes the anterior jugular vein, the dorsal scapular vein and, at the venous angle, the thoracic duct (left) or right lymphatic duct.	Drains the upper limb and part of the neck and chest wall.; Receives lymph from the great lymphatic ducts at the venous angle.
Brachiocephalic vein	—	The vertebral, internal thoracic and inferior thyroid veins (the inferior thyroid veins usually join the left brachiocephalic vein).…	Collect blood from the head, neck and upper limbs and deliver it to the SVC.
Azygos vein	—	The right posterior intercostal veins (spaces 2–4 drain through the right superior intercostal vein), the hemiazygos and accessory hemiazygos veins, and oesophageal, bronchial, mediastinal and pericardial veins.	Drains the posterior thoracic and upper abdominal walls, the oesophagus and the bronchi.; Provides a bypass route between the IVC and SVC territories.

Veins — upper limb 4

Vein	Course	Tributaries	Drains
Axillary vein	—	The basilic vein and brachial veins (which form it), the cephalic vein, and veins that match the branches of the axillary artery, including the lateral thoracic, subscapular and circumflex humeral veins and the thoracoepigastric…	Drains the entire upper limb, the lateral chest wall and the breast.
Cephalic vein	—	—	Drains the lateral (radial) side of the hand, forearm and arm.
Basilic vein	—	—	Drains the medial (ulnar) side of the hand, forearm and arm.
Median cubital vein	—	—	Links the superficial veins of the lateral and medial forearm.

Veins — abdomen & portal system 8

Vein	Course	Tributaries	Drains
Hepatic veins	—	—	Drain all blood leaving the liver, about 1.5 L/min, into the IVC.
Hepatic portal vein	—	The superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein (which forms it). The splenic vein usually receives the inferior mesenteric vein.…	Delivers absorbed nutrients and gut-derived substances to the liver for processing, storage and detoxification.; Supplies about 75% of hepatic blood flow.;…
Splenic vein	—	The short gastric, left gastro-omental and pancreatic veins, and usually the inferior mesenteric vein.	Drains the spleen, the pancreatic body and tail, and the gastric fundus and greater curvature.
Superior mesenteric vein	—	The jejunal, ileal, ileocolic, right colic, middle colic, inferior pancreaticoduodenal and right gastro-omental veins.	Drains the small intestine, caecum, appendix, ascending colon and transverse colon, carrying absorbed nutrients to the liver.
Inferior mesenteric vein	—	The superior rectal, sigmoid and left colic veins.	Drains the descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum and upper anal canal into the portal system.
Renal vein	—	Both renal veins receive interlobar veins from inside the kidney. The left renal vein also receives the left gonadal, left suprarenal, left inferior phrenic and second lumbar veins.	Return filtered blood from the kidneys, about 20% of cardiac output, to the IVC.
Gonadal veins (testicular / ovarian)	—	—	Drain the testes and epididymis or the ovaries.; Help regulate testicular temperature by countercurrent heat exchange (pampiniform plexus).
Common iliac vein	—	The external and internal iliac veins (which form it), the iliolumbar veins, sometimes the lateral sacral veins, and the median sacral vein (left only).	Drain the lower limbs, pelvis and pelvic organs into the IVC.

Veins — lower limb 4

Vein	Course	Tributaries	Drains
Femoral vein	—	The deep femoral vein, the great saphenous vein, the lateral and medial circumflex femoral veins, and muscular veins.	Drains the deep tissues of the thigh and, through the popliteal vein, the leg and foot.; Receives the superficial venous drainage of the leg through the great saphenous vein.
Popliteal vein	—	The anterior and posterior tibial veins (which form it), the fibular veins, the small saphenous vein, and the genicular and sural (gastrocnemius and soleal) veins.	Drains the leg and foot, including the calf muscle pump, into the femoral vein.
Great saphenous vein	—	The dorsal venous arch, medial marginal vein, posterior arch vein, anterior and posterior accessory saphenous veins, and the superficial epigastric, superficial circumflex iliac and superficial external pudendal veins.…	Drains the superficial tissues of the medial foot, leg and thigh into the deep veins.
Small saphenous vein	—	—	Drains the lateral foot and the posterior calf.

Fetal circulation 1

Vein	Course	Tributaries	Drains
Ductus venosus	—	—	In the fetus, sends oxygen-rich umbilical blood past the liver to the heart.