Human Anatomy, Part 2 - K. A. Dyubenko, A. K. Kolomiytsev, Yu. B. Chaykovsky 2008

Special Part
Cardiovascular System, systema cardiovasculare — Venous System
Veins of the Systemic Circulation — Inferior Vena Cava System — Pelvic Veins

Common iliac Veins, vv.iliacae communes, are paired short trunks formed at the level of the sacroiliac joint by the union of the internal and external iliac veins. The right common iliac vein is shorter than the left. The median sacral vein, v.sacralis mediana, empties into the left iliac vein. At the level of the intervertebral disc between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae, the right and left iliac veins unite to form the INFERIOR VENA CAVA, v.cava inferior.

The internal iliac vein, v.iliaca interna, is located on the lateral wall of the pelvis, posterior to the a.iliaca interna (Fig. 75). It is formed by parietal veins and VEINS OF THE pelvic viscera that accompany the Arteries of the same name. The parietal veins drain venous Blood from the walls of the lesser pelvis.

Parietal tributaries of the internal iliac vein:

1. Superior and inferior gluteal veins, vv.gluteae superiores et inferiores;

2. Obturator veins, vv.obturatoriae;

3. Lateral sacral veins, vv.sacrales laterales;

4. Iliolumbar vein, v.iliolumbalis.

Visceral tributaries of the internal iliac vein (Fig. 76 A, 76 B)

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Fig. 75. Internal iliac vein and its parietal tributaries

The visceral tributaries originate from the following venous plexuses of the pelvic Organs:

1. Sacral venous plexus, plexus venosus sacralis, is formed by the lateral sacral veins and the median sacral vein, vv.sacrales laterales et v.sacralis media.

2. Rectal venous plexus, plexus venosus rectalis, or plexus venosus hemorrhoidalis, is located between the layers of the rectal wall. Depending on its Location, three venous plexuses are distinguished: submucosal, subfascial, and subcutaneous. The submucosal venous plexus in the region of the anal columns forms small venous nodules arranged in a ring; when venous outflow is impaired, these nodules can dilate and form hemorrhoidal nodes, or hemorrhoids, hemorrhois, which cause bleeding. Venous blood from the submucosal plexus drains via efferent veins that pierce the muscular layer and connect with the veins of the subfascial or external rectal plexus, plexus rectalis externus. From this plexus, venous blood flows into the superior rectal vein, v.rectalis superior, which empties via the inferior mesenteric vein into the HEPATIC PORTAL VEIN, and into the middle rectal veins, vv.rectales mediae, which empty via the internal iliac vein into the inferior vena cava. The subcutaneous venous plexus, plexus venosus subcutaneus, is located in the region of the external anal sphincter. Venous blood from this plexus drains via the inferior rectal veins, vv.rectales inferiores, into the internal pudendal vein, v.pudenda interna.

3. Vesical venous plexus, plexus venosus vesicalis, is located in the region of the Base of the Urinary Bladder. The vesical venous plexus anastomoses with the plexus venosus rectalis and plexus prostaticus. Venous blood from the plexus drains through the vesical veins, vv.vesicales, into the internal iliac vein.

4. Prostatic venous plexus, plexus venosus prostaticus, is situated in the retropubic space. It is bounded posteriorly by the urinary bladder and Prostate Gland, and anteriorly by the Pubic Symphysis. The deep dorsal vein of the Penis, v.dorsalis penis profunda, empties into this plexus in males, and the v.dorsalis clitoridis in females.

5. Uterine and vaginal venous plexus, plexus uterinus et vaginalis (Fig. 77), is located around the Vagina and the lateral margins of the Uterus, between the two layers of the broad ligament of the uterus. Venous blood from the uterine and vaginal plexus drains through the uterine veins, vv.uterinae, into the internal iliac vein. The uterine and vaginal venous plexus anastomoses with the rectal venous plexus and the prostatic venous plexus.

6. External iliac vein, v.iliaca externa (Fig. 73), is the continuation of the v.femoralis; it runs initially medial to the a.femoralis and then posterior to it. The external iliac vein receives tributaries: the inferior epigastric vein, v.epigastrica inferior, and the deep circumflex iliac vein, v.circumflexa ilium profunda. The external iliac vein collects blood from the veins of the lower limb. At the level of the sacroiliac joint, it unites with the internal iliac vein, v.iliaca interna, to form the common iliac vein, v.iliaca communis.

Fig. 76 A. Arteries and veins of the male pelvic cavity organs (after Toldt)

Fig. 76 B. Arteries and veins of the female pelvic cavity organs (after Toldt)

Fig. 77. Uterine and vaginal venous plexus