Inferior mesenteric vein
Updates to Article Attributes
The inferior mesenteric vein drains blood from the distal portion of the colon as well as the rectum (i.e. the hindgut).
Gross anatomy
Origin and course
The inferior mesenteric vein drains the mesenteric arcade of the hindgut (which comprises(comprising of distal transverse colon, descending colon,, and sigmoid colon). Specifically, it drains the tributaries of sigmoid veins, middle and left colic veins, as well as the superior, middle and, and inferior rectal veins. The rectal vein and sigmoid vein usually join to form a common trunk before uniting with the left colic vein.
Supply
The inferior mesenteric vein usually drains into the splenic vein; however, anatomical variants where it drains to the superior mesenteric vein or at the splenoportal angle are not uncommon.
Relations
The inferior mesenteric vein lies left of the inferior mesenteric artery and anterior to the left psoas major muscle, close to the ligament of Trietz. It can cross the left testicular artery or ascend medially to it.
-<p>The <strong>inferior mesenteric vein</strong> drains blood from the distal portion of the <a href="/articles/large-intestine-1">colon</a> as well as the <a href="/articles/rectum">rectum</a> (i.e. the hindgut). </p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Origin and course</h5><p>The inferior mesenteric vein drains the mesenteric arcade of the hindgut (which comprises distal transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon). Specifically, it drains the tributaries of sigmoid veins, middle and left colic veins, as well as the superior, middle and inferior rectal veins. The rectal vein and sigmoid vein usually join to form a common trunk before uniting with the left colic vein.</p><h5>Supply</h5><p>The inferior mesenteric vein usually drains into the splenic vein; however, anatomical variants where it drains to the <a href="/articles/superior-mesenteric-vein">superior mesenteric vein</a> or at the splenoportal angle are not uncommon.</p><h5>Relations</h5><p>The inferior mesenteric vein lies left of the <a href="/articles/inferior-mesenteric-artery">inferior mesenteric artery</a> and anterior to the left <a href="/articles/psoas-major-1">psoas major muscle</a>, close to the <a href="/articles/ligament-of-treitz">Treitz ligament</a>. It can cross the left <a href="/articles/testicular-arteries">testicular artery</a> or ascend medially to it.</p>- +<p>The <strong>inferior mesenteric vein</strong> drains blood from the distal portion of the <a href="/articles/large-intestine-1">colon</a> as well as the <a href="/articles/rectum">rectum</a> (i.e. the hindgut). </p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Origin and course</h5><p>The inferior mesenteric vein drains the mesenteric arcade of the hindgut (comprising of distal transverse, descending, and sigmoid colon). Specifically, it drains the tributaries of sigmoid veins, middle and left colic veins, as well as the superior, middle, and inferior rectal veins. The rectal vein and sigmoid vein usually join to form a common trunk before uniting with the left colic vein.</p><h5>Supply</h5><p>The inferior mesenteric vein usually drains into the <a title="Splenic vein" href="/articles/splenic-vein">splenic vein</a>; however, anatomical variants where it drains to the <a href="/articles/superior-mesenteric-vein">superior mesenteric vein</a> or at the splenoportal angle are not uncommon.</p><h5>Relations</h5><p>The inferior mesenteric vein lies left of the <a href="/articles/inferior-mesenteric-artery">inferior mesenteric artery</a> and anterior to the left <a href="/articles/psoas-major-1">psoas major muscle</a>, close to the <a title="Ligament of Treitz" href="/articles/ligament-of-treitz">ligament of Trietz</a>. It can cross the left <a href="/articles/testicular-arteries">testicular artery</a> or ascend medially to it.</p>
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