The esophageal veins drain blood from the
esophagus
The esophagus (American English), oesophagus (British English), or œsophagus (Œ, archaic spelling) (American and British English spelling differences#ae and oe, see spelling difference) all ; : ((o)e)(œ)sophagi or ((o)e)(œ)sophaguses), c ...
to the
azygos vein, in the
thorax
The thorax (: thoraces or thoraxes) or chest is a part of the anatomy of mammals and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen.
In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main di ...
, and to the
inferior thyroid vein
The inferior thyroid veins appear two, frequently three or four, in number, and arise in the venous plexus on the thyroid gland, communicating with the middle and superior thyroid veins. While the superior and middle thyroid veins serve as direc ...
in the neck. It also drains, although with less significance, to the
hemiazygos vein,
posterior intercostal vein and
bronchial veins.
In the abdomen, some drain to the
left gastric vein which drains into the
portal vein
The portal vein or hepatic portal vein (HPV) is a blood vessel that carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen to the liver. This blood contains nutrients and toxins extracted from digested contents. Approxima ...
.
See also
*
Esophageal varices
Esophageal varices are extremely Vasodilation, dilated sub-mucosal veins in the lower third of the esophagus. They are most often a consequence of portal hypertension, commonly due to cirrhosis. People with esophageal varices have a strong tendenc ...
References
External links
*
* ()
* https://web.archive.org/web/20080506103555/http://www.med.mun.ca/anatomyts/digest/avein6.htm
Thoracic veins
Veins of the torso
{{circulatory-stub