Labial vein

Labial Vein

The labial veins as part of the facial venous system. (Gray's Anatomy, Plate 507)

The labial veins are a group of veins located in the lips, specifically the lower lip and upper lip. They are part of the facial venous system, which drains blood from the facial structures back to the heart.

Anatomy

The labial veins originate from the labial capillary network, which is a dense network of small blood vessels in the lips. They converge to form two main veins: the superior labial vein and the inferior labial vein. The superior labial vein drains the upper lip, while the inferior labial vein drains the lower lip.

The superior labial vein and inferior labial vein join the facial vein at the angle of the mouth. From there, the blood is carried back to the heart through the internal jugular vein.

Clinical significance

Due to their location, the labial veins can be affected by various conditions such as lip swelling, lip injury, and lip infection. They can also be used for venipuncture in certain medical procedures.

See also

• Facial vein
• Vein
• Lip