Ascending lumbar vein

Ascending lumbar vein
The venæ cavæ and azygos veins, with their tributaries.
Details
Drains from	lateral sacral veins
Drains to	azygos vein, hemiazygos vein
Identifiers
Latin	vena lumbalis ascendens
TA98	A12.3.07.011 A12.3.09.004
TA2	4757, 4771
FMA	12858
Anatomical terminology

The ascending lumbar vein is a vein that runs up through the lumbar region on the side of the vertebral column.

Structure

The ascending lumbar vein is a paired structure (i.e. one each for the right and left sides of the body). It starts at the lateral sacral veins, and it runs superiorly, intersecting with the lumbar veins as it crosses them. It connects external iliac,iliolumbar and lumbar veins with azgos and hemiazygos veins of the thorax.

When the ascending lumbar vein crosses the subcostal vein, it becomes one of the following:

• the azygos vein (in the case of the right ascending lumbar vein)
• the hemiazygos vein (in the case of the left ascending lumbar vein)

External links

• thoraxlesson5 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (postmediastinumlevel5)
• Template:EMedicineDictionary
• figures/chapter_29/29-4.HTM: Basic Human Anatomy at Dartmouth Medical School