
Where is the superior mesenteric vein located?
The superior mesenteric vein, also known as (SMV) transports blood from the small intestine and the cecum. It follows a path similar to that of the superior mesenteric artery. This vein is located in the abdominal cavity next to the superior mesenteric artery. The inferior mesenteric vein lies left of the inferior mesenteric artery and
What is the length of the superior mesenteric vein?
length of mesenteric root. 15 cm. What does the mesenteric root contain? superior mesenteric artery and vein. What are sacculations of the colon? haustra.
What is SMA and SMV?
- right gastroepiploic vein
- middle colic vein
- anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal vein
What does mesenteric artery, superior mean?
Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) is a digestive condition that occurs when the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) is compressed between two arteries (the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery). This compression causes partial or complete blockage of the duodenum. Symptoms vary based on severity, but can be severely debilitating.

What is a superior mesenteric vein?
The superior mesenteric vein (SMV) is a major venous tributary of the abdominal cavity. Embryologically derived in association with the vitelline vein, the superior mesenteric vein lies lateral to the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and serves to drain the vast majority of the organs of the abdominal cavity.
What does the superior mesenteric vein connect to?
The superior mesenteric vein 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 hepatic portal vein.
Where is the inferior mesenteric vein located in the body?
The inferior mesenteric vein arises in the lower abdomen as a continuation of the superior rectal vein that drains the rectal (hemorrhoidal) venous plexus. The inferior mesenteric vein runs retroperitoneally, ascending from its origin to the left side.
What does the SMA supply blood to?
The superior mesenteric artery supplies the midgut from the ampullary region of the second part of the duodenum to the splenic flexure of the large intestine. The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery arises from the SMA and, along with the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery, supplies the head of the pancreas.
What organs does the superior mesenteric artery supply?
The superior mesenteric artery, a direct branch of the abdominal aorta, supplies oxygenated blood to the cecum, ascending colon, and proximal two-thirds of the transverse colon.
What does the superior mesenteric vein drain?
The superior mesenteric vein (SMV) accompanies the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and drains the midgut to the portal venous system.
Does the superior mesenteric artery supply the stomach?
The superior mesenteric artery is in the midsection of the digestive tract (midgut). It originates from the aorta between the celiac artery and renal arteries. The celiac artery supplies blood to the liver, spleen and stomach. The renal arteries send blood to the kidneys.
What do the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries supply?
The superior mesenteric artery supplies the midgut and the inferior mesenteric artery supplies the hindgut. Each of these arteries give off major branches that supply regions of the gastrointestinal tract.
What drains to superior mesenteric vein?
The main function of the superior mesenteric vein is to drain the blood from the distal portion of the gastrointestinal tract. Specifically, it drains the small intestine, caecum, ascending and transverse parts of the colon, and distal parts of the stomach and greater omentum.
Which vein connects to small intestine?
The splenic vein drains the stomach, the superior mesenteric vein drains the upper small intestine, while the inferior mesenteric vein drains the distal portions of the colon.
Which vein connects to the left renal vein?
left gonadal veinThe left renal vein courses between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery to join the inferior vena cava. The left gonadal vein will drain into to left renal vein. The right gonadal vein drains directly into the inferior venal cava.
Where does the SMV drain to?
The SMV drains the small intestine, cecum, and ascending and transverse colon via the jejunal, ileal, ileocolic, right colic, and middle colic veins. The IMV drains the descending colon through the left colic, the sigmoid through the sigmoid vein, and the rectum through the superior rectal vein.
What is the function of the superior mesenteric vein?
Its function is to drain blood from the small intestine as well as the first sections of the large intestine and other digestive organs. This large vein receives blood from several other veins (tributaries) in the digestive tract.
What is the name of the vein in the second part of the small intestine?
The jejunal vein from the second part of the small intestine. The ileal vein from the last part of the small intestine. The ileocolic vein from the ileum, colon, and cecum. The right colic vein from the ascending colon. The gastrocolic trunk also joins, which includes:
Why is my SMV on the left side?
If it is found to be on the left, such as with an imaging test or during surgery, that could be caused by a congenital condition (such as midgut malrotation), by the vein being shifted by a growing tumor, or by a short-term rotation of the gut. In some people, the SMV may have one main trunk.
Where does the SMV go?
This large vein receives blood from several other veins (tributaries) in the digestive tract. It lies to the right of the superior mesenteric artery. Nutrients absorbed from the small intestine are carried in the blood and through the SMV to the hepatic portal vein and then into the liver. Once in the liver, the nutrients can be dispersed ...
Where do the veins in the SMV come from?
Other veins that feed into the SMV come from sections of the large intestine which include the cecum, ascending colon, and transverse colon. Still other contributing veins come from the stomach and the pancreas . These veins include: The jejunal vein from the second part of the small intestine.
Which artery carries blood to the liver?
The superior mesenteric artery, which carries blood into the digestive system, is on the left side of the abdomen. The SMV joins with the splenic vein and becomes the hepatic portal vein. It is the hepatic portal vein that carries the blood to the liver. The SMV receives blood coming from several parts of the digestive tract.
What is the difference between arteries and veins?
Anatomy. Veins are the blood vessels that carry blood from various parts of the body and toward the heart. This is different from arteries, which carry blood away from the heart and back toward the organs and structures of the body.
What is the function of the superior mesenteric vein?
The main function of the superior mesenteric vein is to drain the blood from the distal portion of the gastrointestinal tract. Specifically, it drains the small intestine, caecum, ascending and transverse parts of the colon, and distal parts of the stomach and greater omentum. This article will discuss the anatomy and function ...
How long does it take to read a superior mesenteric vein?
Reading time: 2 minutes. Superior mesenteric vein (Vena mesenterica superior) The superior mesenteric vein (SMV) is a large venous vessel located in the abdomen. It arises within the mesentery of the small intestine from the small tributaries that drain blood from the terminal ileum, caecum and vermiform appendix.
Which vein runs on the left side of the L1 vertebra?
Along its course, the vein accompanies the superior mesenteric artery that runs on its left side. The superior mesenteric vein terminates at the transpyloric plane (around the lower margin of the L1 vertebra) by merging with the splenic vein to form the hepatic portal vein.
Which vein carries nutrients from the small intestine into the hepatic portal vein?
The middle colic vein. The right gastroepiploic vein. The inferior pancreaticoduodenal vein. By collecting the blood from these veins, the superior mesenteric vein carries the nutrients absorbed in the small intestine into the hepatic portal vein.
What is the superior mesenteric vein?
Anatomical terminology. The superior mesenteric vein 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 hepatic portal vein. The superior mesenteric vein lies to the right of the similarly named artery, ...
Which vein drains the small intestine, large intestine, stomach, pancreas and append
Tributaries of the superior mesenteric vein drain the small intestine, large intestine, stomach, pancreas and appendix and include: The superior mesenteric vein combines with the splenic vein to form the portal vein.
Is mesenteric thrombosis fatal?
Thrombosis of the superior mesenteric vein is quite rare, but a significant cause of mesenteric ischemia and can be fatal. It is estimated that 10–15% of mesenteric ischemia is due to mesenteric thrombosis.
Which vein joins the portal vein?
The splenic vein and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) join to form the main portal vein (see Chapter 2 ). The inferior mesenteric vein usually enters the splenic adjacent to the confluence, but it may also enter the SMV either at or just caudal to the confluence. The coronary vein most often drains into the cephalic aspect ...
Which vein runs behind the pancreas?
Superiorly, the portal vein runs behind the pancreas and is identified first in the gap between the curvature of the splenic vein, splenic artery, common hepatic artery, and gastroduodenal artery. Division of the gastroduodenal artery provides much greater access to the superior surface of the portal vein.
What is the portal vein?
The portal vein is made up by the confluence of the superior mesenteric and splenic veins behind the neck of the pancreas. It constitutes 80% of the hepatic blood flow and provides 50% of the hepatic oxygen demand.
Where do the veins drain from the pancreas?
Typically, the anterior-superior pancreaticoduodenal vein drains directly into the portal vein, and the posterior-superior pancreaticoduodenal vein drains into the SMV.
What is portal hypertension?
Portal hypertension is initiated by an increase in resistance to portal venous outflow. Depending on the site of the increase in resistance, portal hypertension may also be classified as presinusoidal, sinusoidal, or postsinusoidal ( Table I ). The most common cause of portal hypertension is cirrhosis.
What causes portal vein to be infected?
Blunt trauma causing a direct blow to the abdomen or severe deceleration forces can injure the portal vein, usually in combination with the SMV. The operative exposure for these injuries can be extensive, using an extensive right-sided medial visceral rotation of the ascending colon and duodenum.
Where is lymphadenopathy seen?
Lymphadenopathy may occur, and this is seen usually around the pancreaticoduodenal region, hepatoduodenal region and around the coeliac axis. Slightly enlarged reactive nodes are common after bile duct stent insertion, but significantly enlarged abdominal nodes are likely to be involved ( Fig. 16.38 ).
Overview
The superior mesenteric artery provides oxygenated blood and nutrients to the intestines. These organs are part of the digestive system. The artery branches off of the aorta, which is the body’s largest blood vessel.
Function
The superior mesenteric artery is a peripheral artery in the body’s circulatory system. Arteries carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Peripheral arteries circulate blood to parts of the body farther from the heart.
Anatomy
The superior mesenteric artery is in the midsection of the digestive tract (midgut). It originates from the aorta between the celiac artery and renal arteries. The celiac artery supplies blood to the liver, spleen and stomach. The renal arteries send blood to the kidneys.
Care
These lifestyle changes can keep your body’s circulatory system healthy:

Overview
The superior mesenteric vein 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 hepatic portal vein. The superior mesenteric vein lies to the right of the similarly named artery, the superior mesenteric artery, which originates from the abdominal aorta.
Structure
Tributaries of the superior mesenteric vein drain the small intestine, large intestine, stomach, pancreas and appendix and include:
• Right gastro-omental vein (also known as the right gastro-epiploic vein)
• inferior pancreaticoduodenal veins
Clinical significance
Thrombosis of the superior mesenteric vein is quite rare, but a significant cause of mesenteric ischemia and can be fatal. It is estimated that 10–15% of mesenteric ischemia is due to mesenteric thrombosis.
Additional images
• Abdominal cavity.Superior mesenteric vein.Deep dissection.
External links
• "Mesenteric vein superior". Medcyclopaedia. GE. Archived from the original on 2008-06-06.
• Anatomy photo:39:02-0102 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center – "Intestines and Pancreas: The Superior Mesenteric Vessels"
• Anatomy image:8696 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center