Human Anatomy - Kotsan I. Ya. 2009

Vessels of the Lesser (Pulmonary) Circulation
Veins of the Greater Circulation
Veins of the Brain

The Veins OF THE Brain are divided into superficial and deep.

The superficial cerebral veins (vv. superficiales cerebri) collect Blood from the greater part of the Cerebral Cortex. These veins are valveless, form extensive anastomoses with one another, and drain into the Dural Venous Sinuses of the brain. They include the superior and inferior cerebral veins, as well as the superficial middle cerebral vein.

The group of superficial superior (ascending) cerebral veins (vv. cerebri superiores) comprises veins located in the precentral and postcentral gyri, as well as the prefrontal veins (vv. praefrontales), frontal veins (vv. frontales), parietal veins (vv. parietales), and occipital veins (vv. occipitales). Ascending along the Superolateral surface of the cerebral hemisphere to its superior margin, these veins drain into the superior sagittal sinus of the dura mater.

The group of superficial inferior (descending) cerebral veins (vv. cerebri inferiores) unites the anterior and posterior temporal veins and the inferior occipital vein. All these veins empty into the transverse or superior petrosal sinuses.

The tributaries of the superficial middle cerebral vein (v. media superficialis cerebri), which lies in the lateral sulcus, include veins from adjacent areas of the frontal, parietal, temporal, and insular lobes of the cerebral hemisphere. The superficial middle cerebral vein empties into the superior petrosal or cavernous sinus of the dura mater.

The veins of the Medial surface of the cerebral hemispheres drain into the superior sagittal sinus and the basal vein, which belongs to the deep Venous system.

The deep veins of the brain (vv. profundae cerebri) collect blood from its internal structures: the basal nuclei, hippocampus, Hypothalamus, septum pellucidum, and the choroid plexuses of the ventricles, among others. The deep veins include the following:

1. The basal vein (v. basalis) is paired and originates in the region of the anterior perforated substance from the veins of the lentiform Nucleus and the tuber cinereum. It winds laterally around the cerebral peduncle and, upon reaching the dorsal surface of the colliculi of the Midbrain, empties into the great cerebral vein. Anterior to the cerebral peduncles, the right and left basal veins anastomose via the posterior communicating vein (v. communicans posterior). The tributaries of the basal vein are: a) the anterior cerebral veins (vv. anteriores cerebri), accompanying the Arteries of the same name; b) the middle deep cerebral vein (v. media profunda cerebri), which receives the insular veins (vv. insulares); c) the inferior thalamostriate veins (vv. thalamostriatae inferiores), draining blood from the thalamus and striatum; d) the vein of the olfactory gyrus (v. gyri olfactorii), running from the olfactory trigone; e) the inferior ventricular vein (v. ventricularis inferior); f) the inferior choroid vein (v. choroidea inferior), collecting blood from the hippocampus, dentate gyrus, and the choroid plexus of the inferior horn of the lateral ventricle; g) the peduncular veins (vv. pedunculares). Together with the anterior communicating vein (v. communicans anterior), which connects the anterior cerebral veins, the basal vein forms the circulus arteriosus (or rather, venous circle) around the brain stem and hypothalamic structures.

2. The great cerebral vein (v. magna cerebri) is a short, unpaired vessel, up to 1 cm in length, located deep within the transverse cerebral fissure. It runs from anterior to posterior, lying between the Inferior surface of the splenium of the corpus callosum and the tectum of the midbrain (colliculi), and empties into the straight sinus. It is formed by the union of the internal cerebral veins. In addition to both basal veins, the great cerebral vein receives the posterior and dorsal veins of the corpus callosum (v. posterior corporis callosi et v. dorsalis corporis callosi).

3. The internal cerebral veins (vv. internae cerebri) are typically two veins formed in the region of the interventricular foramina, running posteriorly through the tela choroidea of the Third ventricle of the brain. At the level of the posterior wall of the third ventricle, the internal cerebral vein receives the hippocampal vein (vein of the pes hippocampi); subsequently, the right and left internal cerebral veins converge and, uniting above the colliculi, form the great cerebral vein. The tributaries of the internal cerebral veins are: a) the superior choroid vein (v. choroidea superior); b) the posterior vein of the septum pellucidum (v. posterior septi pellucidi); c) the medial and lateral veins of the atrium of the lateral ventricle (v. medialis atrii ventriculi lateralis et v. lateralis atrii ventriculi lateralis).

The Extracranial Tributaries of the Internal jugular vein include veins that collect venous blood from the facial Skeleton, scalp, and the Organs and Muscles of the neck. These comprise the following veins:

1. The facial vein (v. facialis) empties into the internal jugular vein at the level of the Hyoid bone. Smaller veins formed within the soft Tissues of the face drain into the facial vein: the angular vein (v. angularis); supraorbital vein (v. supraorbitalis); superior palpebral veins (vv. palpebrales superiores); inferior palpebral veins (vv. palpebrales inferiores); external nasal veins (vv. nasales externae); superior labial vein (v. labialis superior); inferior labial veins (vv. labiales inferiores); palatine vein (v. palatina); submental vein (v. submentalis); parotid branches (rami parotidei); deep facial vein (v. profunda faciei).

2. The retromandibular vein (v. retromandibularis) is a relatively large vessel that represents the direct continuation of the superficial temporal vein (v. temporalis superficialis). It is situated anterior to the auricle and courses superiorly to inferiorly, initially passing through the substance of the parotid gland and subsequently posterior to the ramus of the Mandible. Upon reaching the angle of the mandible, the retromandibular vein turns anteriorly and empties into the internal jugular vein. The retromandibular vein receives the following tributaries: the superficial temporal vein (v. temporalis superficialis), which collects blood from the subcutaneous venous plexus of the lateral surface of the cranial vault; the middle temporal vein (v. temporalis media), which drains the temporalis Muscle; the anterior auricular veins (vv. auriculares anteriores), collecting blood from the anterior surface of the auricle and the external acoustic meatus; the veins of the temporomandibular joint (vv. articulares temporomandibulares), draining blood from the venous plexus surrounding the temporomandibular joint; the transverse facial vein (v. transversa faciei), carrying venous blood from the lateral surface of the face; and the maxillary veins (vv. maxillares), which drain blood from the pterygoid plexus. The pterygoid plexus (plexus pterygoideus) is located in the infratemporal fossa On the surface of the lateral and medial pterygoid muscles and receives the following veins: the middle meningeal veins (vv. meningeae mediae); deep temporal veins (vv. temporales profundae); parotid veins (vv. parotideae); as well as veins draining blood from the Nasal cavity and the mandibular Teeth.

The External Jugular Vein (v. jugularis externa) is formed by the union of two tributaries: an anterior one, which represents an anastomosis with the retromandibular vein (which drains into the internal jugular vein), and a posterior one, formed by the confluence of the occipital and posterior auricular veins (v. occipitalis et v. auricularis posterior). The external jugular vein descends along the anterior surface of the sternocleidomastoid muscle to the clavicle, pierces the investing layer (or pretracheal layer) of the Cervical fascia, and empties into the subclavian vein, the internal jugular vein, or the angle formed by their junction. At the level of its termination and at the mid-neck level, this vein possesses two pairs of Valves. The external jugular vein collects blood from the temporal, parietal, and occipital Regions of the HEAD, the auricle, and the anterior and lateral regions of the neck. The suprascapular vein, Anterior jugular vein, and transverse cervical veins empty into the external jugular vein.

The suprascapular vein (v. suprascapularis) accompanies the artery of the same name as two trunks that subsequently unite to form a single trunk, which empties into the terminal segment of the external jugular vein or into the subclavian vein.

The anterior jugular vein (v. jugularis anterior) is formed by small veins from the mental region, descends in the anterior region of the neck, pierces the investing layer of the cervical fascia, and enters the interfascial suprasternal space. Within this space, the right and left anterior jugular veins communicate via a well-developed transverse anastomosis known as the jugular venous arch (arcus venosus juguli). The anterior jugular vein then curves laterally and, passing posterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, empties into the external jugular vein of its respective side.

The subclavian vein (v. subclavia) is the direct continuation of the axillary vein. It passes anterior to the anterior scalene muscle from the outer border of the first rib to the sternoclavicular joint, posterior to which it unites with the internal jugular vein to form the brachiocephalic vein. Valves are present at the beginning and end of the subclavian vein. It has no constant tributaries. More frequently than others, small pectoral veins (vv. pectorales) and the dorsal scapular vein (v. scapularis dorsalis) empty into the subclavian vein. Occasionally, the thoracoacromial vein (v. thoracoacromialis) also drains into it.