Superior mesenteric vein

Superior mesenteric vein
	The abdomen viewed from the front, showing the portal venous system, showing the superior mesenteric vein and its tributaries. (Lienal vein is an old term for splenic vein.)
Details
System	Hepatic portal system
Drains to	hepatic portal vein
Artery	superior mesenteric artery
Identifiers
Latin	vena mesenterica superior
TA	A12.3.12.018
FMA	14332
	Anatomical terminology

The superior mesenteric vein is a blood vessel that drains blood from the small intestine (jejunum and ileum). At its termination behind the neck of the pancreas, the superior mesenteric vein combines with the splenic vein to form the hepatic portal vein. The superior mesenteric vein lies to the right of the similarly named artery, the superior mesenteric artery, which originates from the abdominal aorta.

Structure

Tributaries of the superior mesenteric vein drain the small intestine, large intestine, stomach, pancreas and appendix and include:

Right gastro-omental vein (also known as the right gastro-epiploic vein)
inferior pancreaticoduodenal veins
veins from jejunum
veins from ileum
middle colic vein - drains the transverse colon
right colic vein - drains the ascending colon
ileocolic vein

Clinical significance

Thrombosis of the superior mesenteric vein is quite rare, but a significant cause of mesenteric ischemia and can be fatal. It is estimated that 10-15% of mesenteric ischemia is due to mesenteric thrombosis.

References

^ Tessier DJ, Williams RA, Mesenteric ischemic thrombosis, eMedicine, URL: http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2753.htm, Accessed July 30, 2005.

Additional images

Abdominal cavity.Superior mesenteric vein.Deep dissection.

External links

"Mesenteric vein superior". Medcyclopaedia. GE. Archived from the original on 2008-06-06.
Anatomy photo:39:02-0102 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Intestines and Pancreas: The Superior Mesenteric Vessels"
Anatomy image:8696 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.