The veins of the brainstem drain the medulla, the pons and the mesencephalon, including the cerebral peduncles, tegmentum and quadrigeminal plate. They are characterized by several variations and feature multiple connections draining into the inferior, medial superior petrosal sinuses or form a transtentorial anastomosis via the basal vein of Rosenthal with the vein of Galen. Less frequently they connect via bridging veins to the cavernous, marginal and sigmoid sinuses or the jugular bulb 1.
The veins of the brainstem include 1,2:
- peduncular veins
- lateral mesencephalic veins
- median or lateral anterior pontomesencephalic vein(s)
- vein of the pontomesencephalic sulcus (pontomesencephalic vein)
- transverse pontine veins
- veins of the pontomedullary sulcus
- median or lateral anterior medullary vein(s)
- retro-olivary and lateral medullary veins
- transverse medullary veins