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Veins of the pelvis

Alexey Portnov, medical expert
Last reviewed: 19.11.2021

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The common iliac vein (v. Iliaca communis) is a large valveless vessel. It is formed at the level of the sacroiliac joint with the fusion of the internal and external iliac veins. The right common iliac vein passes first behind, and then lateral to the same artery. The left common iliac vein is medial to the same artery. It is median sacral vein (v. Sacralis mediana).

At the level of the intervertebral disc, between the IV and V lumbar vertebrae, the right and left common iliac veins merge, forming the inferior vena cava.

The internal iliac vein (v. Iliaca interna) rarely has valves lying on the side wall of the small pelvis behind the same artery. The areas from which blood brings its tributaries correspond (except for the umbilical vein) to the branches of the same-named artery. The internal iliac vein has parietal and visceral inflows, the latter, with the exception of the bladder veins, do not have valves. As a rule, they start from the venous plexuses that surround the pelvic organs.

Parietal tributaries:

upper and lower gluteal veins (vv. Gluteales superiores et inferiores);
blocking veins (vv. Obturatoriae);
lateral sacral veins (vv. Sacrales laterales) paired;
ilio-lumbar vein (v. Iliolumbalis) unpaired. These veins are adjacent to the same arteries, they have valves.

Visceral tributaries:

sacral plexus (plexus venosus sacralis) is formed due to anastomoses of the roots of the sacral lateral and median veins;
a prosthetic venous plexus (plexus venosus prostaticus) in men. It is the venous plexus of large veins surrounding the prostate gland and seminal vesicles, into which the deep dorsal vein of the penis (v. Dorsalis profunda penis), deep veins of the penis (vv. Profundae penis) and posterior scrotal veins (vv. Scrotales posteriores), penetrating into the cavity of the pelvis through the urogenital diaphragm;
vaginal venous plexus (plexus venosus vaginalis) in women. This plexus surrounds the urethra and the vagina. Upward, it passes into the uterine venous plexus (plexus venosus utennus), surrounding the cervix. The outflow of blood from these plexuses occurs through the uterine veins (vv. Uterinae);
the vesicular venous plexus (plexus venosus vesicilis) covers the bladder from the sides and in the bottom area. The blood flows away from this plexus of vesical veins (vv vesicales.);
a rectal venous plexus (plexus venosus rectalis) is attached to the rectum from behind and from the sides. This plexus is located in its submucosa and is most complex in the lower part of the rectum. From this plexus, blood flows off one unpaired and two paired middle and lower rectal veins, anastomosing with each other in the walls of the rectum. Upper rectal vein (v. Rectalis superior) empties into the inferior mesenteric vein.

The middle rectal veins (vv. Rectales mediae) are paired, collect blood from the middle part of the organ (flow into the internal iliac vein). The lower rectal veins (vv. Rectales inferiores) are also paired, the blood flows into the internal genital vein (v. Pudenda interna) - the inflow of the internal iliac vein.

The veins of the human body are interconnected by numerous anastomoses. The most practical value is intersystemic venous anastomosis, i.e. By means of which the systems of the upper and lower hollow and portal veins are connected.

The external iliac vein (v. Iliaca externa) is a continuation of the femoral vein (the inguinal ligament serves as the boundary between them), receives blood from all the veins of the lower limb. This vein does not have valves, it should go up next to the same artery and come from the medial side to the large lumbar muscle. At the level of the sacroiliac joint connects with the internal iliac vein, forming a common iliac vein. Directly above the inguinal ligament (almost within the vascular lacuna), the lower epigastric vein (v. Epigastrica inferior) and the deep vein enveloping the iliac bone (v. Circumflexa iliaca profunda) enter the external iliac vein. The position and inflows of these veins correspond to branchings of the same arteries. Anastomoses the lower epigastric vein with the ilio-lumbar vein, a tributary of the internal iliac vein.