human anatomy The human body is the structure of a human being. It is composed of many different types of cells that together create tissues and subsequently organ systems. They ensure homeostasis and the viability of the human body. It comprises a head ...

, the cerebral veins are

blood vessel Blood vessels are the structures of the circulatory system that transport blood throughout the human body. These vessels transport blood cells, nutrients, and oxygen to the tissues of the body. They also take waste and carbon dioxide away from ...

s which drain

blood Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in th ...

from the

cerebrum The cerebrum, telencephalon or endbrain is the largest part of the brain containing the cerebral cortex (of the two cerebral hemispheres), as well as several subcortical structures, including the hippocampus, basal ganglia, and olfactory bulb. ...

of the

human brain The human brain is the central organ (anatomy), organ of the human nervous system, and with the spinal cord makes up the central nervous system. The brain consists of the cerebrum, the brainstem and the cerebellum. It controls most of the act ...

. They are divisible into ''external'' (

superficial cerebral veins The superficial cerebral veins are a group of cerebral veins in the head. This group includes the superior cerebral veins, the superficial middle cerebral vein, the inferior cerebral veins, the inferior anastomotic vein and the superior ana ...

) and ''internal'' (

internal cerebral veins The internal cerebral veins (deep cerebral veins) drain the deep parts of the hemisphere and are two in number; each internal cerebral vein is formed near the interventricular foramina by the union of the superior thalamostriate vein and the sup ...

) groups according to the outer or inner parts of the

hemispheres Hemisphere refers to: * A half of a sphere As half of the Earth * A hemisphere of Earth ** Northern Hemisphere ** Southern Hemisphere ** Eastern Hemisphere ** Western Hemisphere ** Land and water hemispheres * A half of the (geocentric) celestia ...

they drain into.

External veins

The external cerebral veins known as the

are the

superior cerebral veins The superior cerebral veins, numbering eight to twelve, drain the superior, lateral, and medial surfaces of the hemispheres. They are predominantly found in the sulci between the gyri, but can also be found running across the gyri. Individually th ...

inferior cerebral veins The inferior cerebral veins are veins that drain the undersurface of the cerebral hemispheres and empty into the cavernous and transverse sinuses. Those on the orbital surface of the frontal lobe join the superior cerebral veins, and through the ...

, and

middle cerebral veins The middle cerebral veins are the superficial middle cerebral vein and the deep middle cerebral vein. * The superficial middle cerebral vein (superficial Sylvian vein) begins on the lateral surface of the hemisphere, running along the lateral sul ...

. The superior cerebral veins on the upper side surfaces of the hemispheres drain into the

superior sagittal sinus The superior sagittal sinus (also known as the superior longitudinal sinus), within the human head, is an unpaired area along the attached margin of the falx cerebri. It allows blood to drain from the lateral aspects of anterior cerebral hemispher ...

. The superior cerebral veins include the

superior anastomotic vein The superior anastomotic vein, also known as the vein of Trolard, is a superficial cerebral vein grouped with the superior cerebral veins. The vein was eponymously named after the 18th century anatomist Jean Baptiste Paulin Trolard. The vein ana ...

Internal veins

The

are also known as the ''deep cerebral veins'' and drain the deep internal parts of the hemispheres.

References

External links

"Model of the Human Cerebral Veins", at anatomie.uni-tuebingen.de
Veins of the head and neck {{circulatory-stub