The right colic vein drains the

ascending colon In the anatomy of humans and homologous primates, the ascending colon is the part of the colon located between the cecum and the transverse colon. Characteristics and structure The ascending colon is smaller in calibre than the cecum from wh ...

, and is a tributary of the

superior mesenteric vein In human anatomy, the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) is a blood vessel that drains blood from the small intestine (jejunum and ileum). Behind the neck of the pancreas, the superior mesenteric vein combines with the splenic vein to form the portal ...

. It travels with its corresponding artery, the right colic artery.

Background

This study was designed to describe the precise anatomic venous tributaries of the superior mesenteric vein with special emphasis on the superior right colic vein (SRCV), which is seldom mentioned in the literature.

Methods

Nine adult cadavers were dissected to define the venous tributaries of the superior mesenteric vein. The SRCV, middle colic vein, and right colic vein (RCV) were defined as those that drained from the marginal vein of the right flexure of the colon, the transverse colon, and the ascending colon, respectively.

Results

The SRCV was observed to drain from the right flexure of the colon to the confluence of the right gastroepiploic and superior pancreaticoduodenal veins and present the gastrocolic trunk of Henle (GTH) in 8 of 9 cases. The RCV terminated into the GTH in 4 cases. The SRCV, the RCV, and the middle colic vein formed a confluence and entered into the GTH in 1 case.

Conclusions

The SRCV exits and drains from the right colonic flexure to the GTH in 89% of cases.

References

Veins of the torso {{Circulatory-stub