Colic vein

Colic Vein

The colic veins are part of the venous system of the digestive tract. They drain blood from the colon and deliver it to the portal vein.

The colic veins are veins that drain the colon. They are part of the venous system of the digestive system. The colic veins deliver deoxygenated blood from the colon to the portal vein, which carries it to the liver for detoxification before it returns to the heart.

Anatomy

The colic veins are divided into the right, middle, and left colic veins, each named for the part of the colon they drain. The right colic vein drains the ascending colon, the middle colic vein drains the transverse colon, and the left colic vein drains the descending colon.

Function

The primary function of the colic veins is to return deoxygenated blood from the colon to the liver. This blood is rich in nutrients absorbed from the colon, but also contains waste products from the body's cells. The liver filters out these waste products and detoxifies the blood before it is returned to the heart.

Clinical significance

Diseases of the colic veins can lead to serious health problems. For example, portal hypertension can cause the colic veins to become enlarged and varicose, leading to esophageal varices and potentially life-threatening bleeding. Other conditions, such as colonic polyps or colorectal cancer, can also affect the colic veins.

See also

• Vein
• Colon (anatomy)
• Portal vein
• Liver