External iliac vein
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created David Benjabutr had no recorded disclosures.
View David Benjabutr's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosures- External iliac vein (EIV)
- External iliac veins (EIVs)
The external iliac vein (EIV) is located along the pelvic brim between the inguinal ligament and the sacroiliac joint.
Gross anatomy
Origin
The external iliac vein is considered to begin posterior to the inguinal ligament within the lacuna vasorum 1, as a continuation of the femoral vein. It is a valveless vein, in most people 3, and therefore may be used as a central vein for the purposes of measuring right atrial pressures.
Termination
The external iliac vein unites with the internal iliac vein to form the common iliac vein anterior to the sacroiliac joint 1,2.
Tributaries
Bilaterally, the external iliac veins receive the inferior epigastric and deep circumflex iliac veins 1,2.
Relations
- proximal: crossed anteriorly by ureter, internal iliac artery
- distal:
- males: crossed anteriorly by ductus (vas) deferens
- females: crossed anteriorly by round ligament of uterus, ovarian artery, ovarian vein
The left external iliac vein is medial to left external iliac artery throughout course. On the right, the vein begins medially and becomes posterior to the external iliac artery proximally.
References
- 1. Cornelius Rosse, Penelope Gaddum-Rosse, William Henry Hollinshead. Hollinshead's Textbook of Anatomy. (1997)
- 2. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy E-Book. (2015-08-07) ISBN: 9780702068515
- 3. Caggiati A. The venous valves of the lower limbs. (2013) Phlebolymphology 20 (2): 87. https://www.phlebolymphology.org/the-venous-valves-of-the-lower-limbs/
Incoming Links
Related articles: Anatomy: Abdominopelvic
- skeleton of the abdomen and pelvis
- muscles of the abdomen and pelvis
- spaces of the abdomen and pelvis
- anterior abdominal wall
- posterior abdominal wall
- abdominal cavity
- pelvic cavity
- perineum
- abdominal and pelvic viscera
- gastrointestinal tract
- spleen
- hepatobiliary system
-
endocrine system
-
adrenal gland
- adrenal vessels
- chromaffin cells
- variants
- pancreas
- organs of Zuckerkandl
-
adrenal gland
-
urinary system
-
kidney
- renal pelvis
- renal sinus
- avascular plane of Brodel
-
variants
- number
- fusion
- location
- shape
- ureter
- urinary bladder
- urethra
- embryology
-
kidney
- male reproductive system
-
female reproductive system
- vulva
- vagina
- uterus
- adnexa
- Fallopian tubes
- ovaries
- broad ligament (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- embryology
- blood supply of the abdomen and pelvis
- arteries
-
abdominal aorta
- inferior phrenic artery
- coeliac artery
- superior mesenteric artery
- middle suprarenal artery
- renal artery (variant anatomy)
- gonadal artery (ovarian artery | testicular artery)
- inferior mesenteric artery
- lumbar arteries
- median sacral artery
-
common iliac artery
- external iliac artery
-
internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
- anterior division
- umbilical artery
- superior vesical artery
- obturator artery
- vaginal artery
- inferior vesical artery
- uterine artery
- middle rectal artery
-
internal pudendal artery
- inferior rectal artery
-
perineal artery
- posterior scrotal artery
- transverse perineal artery
- artery to the bulb
- deep artery of the penis/clitoris
- dorsal artery of the penis/clitoris
- inferior gluteal artery
- posterior division (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- anterior division
-
abdominal aorta
- portal venous system
- veins
- anastomoses
- arterioarterial anastomoses
- portal-systemic venous collateral pathways
- watershed areas
- arteries
- lymphatics
- innervation of the abdomen and pelvis
- thoracic splanchnic nerves
- lumbar plexus
-
sacral plexus
- lumbosacral trunk
- sciatic nerve
- superior gluteal nerve
- inferior gluteal nerve
- nerve to piriformis
- perforating cutaneous nerve
- posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
- parasympathetic pelvic splanchnic nerves
- pudendal nerve
- nerve to quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus muscles
- nerve to internal obturator and superior gemellus muscles
- autonomic ganglia and plexuses
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.