Quick Facts
Origin: Formed within the root of the mesentery by the union of tributaries from the terminal ileum, cecum, and vermiform appendix.
Course: Ascends within the mesentery and passes anterior to the third part of the duodenum and uncinate process of the pancreas. It then travels posterior to the neck of the pancreas and unites with the splenic vein to form the hepatic portal vein.
Tributaries: Posterior, anterior, inferior pancreaticoduodenal veins, pancreatic, right gastroomental, jejunal, ilial, ileocolic, middle colic, right colic, and splenic veins.
Drainage: Small intestines, part of large intestine, and pancreas.
Origin
The superior mesenteric vein is formed within the root of the mesentery by the union of tributaries from the terminal ileum, cecum, and vermiform appendix.
Course
The superior mesenteric vein ascends along the root of the mesentery. Along its course, it travels between the two layers of the mesentery and is joined by tributaries draining the small intestines, parts of the large intestine, stomach, and pancreas.
The vein travels anterior to the third part of the duodenum and anterior to the uncinate process of the pancreas. It then travels posterior to the neck of the pancreas and unites with the splenic vein to form the hepatic portal vein.
Tributaries
Along its course, the superior mesenteric vein receives tributaries from the posterior, anterior, inferior pancreaticoduodenal, pancreatic, right gastro-omental, jejunal, ilial, ileocolic, middle colic, and right colic veins.
Structures Drained
The superior mesenteric vein drains blood from the small and large intestines, and accessory organs of digestion into the portal venous system. These structures include the jejunum, ileum, cecum, appendix, ascending colon, the proximal two thirds of the transverse colon, parts of the stomach, greater omentum, duodenum, and pancreas.
List of Clinical Correlates
- Cirrhosis
- Portal Hypertension
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Superior Mesenteric Vein
The superior mesenteric vein (SMV) is most commonly used for inflow and is accessed at the base of the colon mesenterium.
