Intervertebral vein

Intervertebral Vein

File:Gray's Anatomy plate 513.png

Intervertebral veins as depicted in Gray's Anatomy

The Intervertebral Vein is a component of the human circulatory system that drains blood from the spinal cord and its surrounding structures. It is a part of the vertebral venous plexus, a network of veins that runs along the length of the vertebral column.

Structure

The intervertebral veins are small, paired veins that emerge from the spinal cord through the intervertebral foramina, openings between each pair of vertebrae. They drain into the vertebral veins and segmental veins, which in turn drain into the azygos vein and hemiazygos vein.

Function

The primary function of the intervertebral veins is to drain deoxygenated blood from the spinal cord and its surrounding structures. They also play a role in the thermoregulation of the spinal cord.

Clinical significance

Due to their location and structure, the intervertebral veins can be affected by various medical conditions, such as vertebral disc herniation, spinal cord injury, and spinal cord tumors. They can also be used as a route for the spread of infections or metastatic cancer cells from other parts of the body to the spinal cord.

See also

• Vertebral venous plexus
• Vertebral vein
• Segmental vein
• Azygos vein
• Hemiazygos vein