Splenic vein
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Aditya Shetty had no recorded disclosures.
View Aditya Shetty's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Tariq Walizai had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Tariq Walizai's current disclosuresThe splenic vein drains the spleen, part of the pancreas, and part of the stomach.
Gross anatomy
Origin and course
The splenic vein is formed by splenic tributaries emerging at the splenic hilum in the splenorenal ligament at the tip of the tail of pancreas. It runs in the splenorenal ligament in close association with the splenic artery.
Behind the neck of the pancreas, it confluences with the superior mesenteric vein to form the portal vein.
Relations
superiorly: splenic artery
anteriorly: pancreas
posteriorly: left kidney, left crus of diaphragm (separated by left renal vessels), left psoas muscle, left sympathetic trunk, and the abdominal aorta (separated by superior mesenteric artery and left renal vein)
Tributaries
Related pathology
The splenic vein is a site of porto-systemic anastomoses via the splenorenal shunt.
References
- 1. Drake RL, Vogl AW, Mitchell AWM. Gray's Anatomy for Students: With STUDENT CONSULT Online Access, 2e. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:0443069522. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Snell RS. Clinical Anatomy by Regions. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN:160913446X. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Last RJ, & McMinn RMH. (1994). Last's anatomy, regional and applied. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone
Incoming Links
- Transverse colon
- Inferior mesenteric vein
- Point-of-care ultrasound (curriculum)
- Pancreas transplant
- Superior mesenteric vein
- Splenic vein thrombosis
- Pancreatic veins
- Normal radiological reference values
- Surgical splenorenal shunt
- Superior mesenteric artery
- Splenic artery
- Stomach
- Descending colon
- Spontaneous splenorenal shunt
- Morgan and Superina classification of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts
- Contrast agent pooling sign
- Portal venous varix
- Portal vein
- Splenorenal shunt venous aneurysm
- Cirrhosis
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
- celiac 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