Intervertebral veins

Vein: Intervertebral veins
Transverse section of a thoracic vertebra, showing the vertebral venous plexuses.
Median sagittal section of two thoracic vertebrae, showing the vertebral venous plexuses.
Latin	vena intervertebralis
Gray's	subject #172 669

The intervertebral veins accompany the spinal nerves through the intervertebral foramina; they receive the veins from the medulla spinalis, drain the internal and external vertebral plexuses.

Their drainage depends upon the part of the body:

• Neck: vertebral vein
• Thorax: intercostal veins
• Lumbar region: lumbar veins
• Sacral region: lateral sacral veins

Their orifices are provided with valves.

References

This article incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy.

External links

• Intervertebral+vein at eMedicine Dictionary