Note: Many veins follow the branching and distribution pattern of the artery of the same name. This table contains veins that do not travel with an artery of the same name, or that run an independent course from the artery of the same name.
| Vein | Tributaries | Drains Into | Regions Drained | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| deep dorsal v. of the clitoris | many unnamed tributaries | vesical venous plexus | erectile tissue of the clitoris | deep dorsal v. of the clitoris passes anterosuperior to the urogenital diaphragm (between the arcuate pubic ligament and the transverse ligament of the perineum) to enter the pelvic cavity; an unpaired vein |
| deep dorsal v. of the penis | many unnamed tributaries | prostatic venous plexus | erectile tissue of the penis | deep dorsal v. of the penis passes anterosuperior to the urogenital diaphragm (between the arcuate pubic ligament and the transverse ligament of the perineum) to enter the pelvic cavity; an unpaired vein |
| deep external pudendal v. | part of the drainage of the superficial dorsal v. of the penis/clitoris | femoral | skin and superficial fascia of the penis/clitoris; pubic region | deep external pudendal v. shares its region of drainage with the superficial external pudendal v. |
| internal pudendal v. | deep dorsal v. of the penis/clitoris, v. of the bulb, posterior labial/scrotal v., inferior rectal v. | internal iliac | crus and bulb of the clitoris/penis; urogenital region, anal region | internal pudendal v. passes through the pudendal canal |
| of clitoris, deep dorsal | many unnamed tributaries | vesical venous plexus | erectile tissue of the clitoris | deep dorsal v. of the clitoris passes anterosuperior to the urogenital diaphragm (between the arcuate pubic ligament and the transverse ligament of the perineum) to enter the pelvic cavity; an unpaired vein |
| of clitoris, superficial dorsal | no named tributaries | superficial external pudendal v. | skin and superficial fascia of the clitoris | superficial dorsal v. of the clitoris is located superficial to the deep fascia of the clitoris |
| of penis, deep dorsal | many unnamed tributaries | prostatic venous plexus | erectile tissue of the penis | deep dorsal v. of the penis passes anterosuperior to the urogenital diaphragm (between the arcuate pubic ligament and the transverse ligament of the perineum) to enter the pelvic cavity; an unpaired vein |
| of penis, superficial dorsal | no named tributaries | superficial external pudendal v. | skin and superficial fascia of the penis | superficial dorsal v. of the penis is located superficial to the deep fascia of the penis |
| ovarian v. | no named tributaries | right: inferior vena cava; left: left renal v. | ovary and the distal part of the uterine tube; ureter | connects with the uterine v.; a pampiniform plexus occurs, but is not as well developed as that seen in the male |
| pampiniform venous plexus | no named tributaries | becomes the testicular vein at the deep inguinal ring | testis, epididymis, ductus deferens | pampiniform venous plexus surrounds the testicular a. to cool arterial blood before it reaches the testis |
| plexus, pampiniform venous | no named tributaries | becomes the testicular vein at the deep inguinal ring | testis, epididymis, ductus deferens | pampiniform venous plexus surrounds the testicular a. to cool arterial blood before it reaches the testis |
| plexus, prostatic venous | deep dorsal v. of the penis | internal iliac v. | penis and the prostate gland | prostatic venous plexus is connected with the vesical venous plexus |
| plexus, rectal venous | no named tributaries | superior, middle & inferior rectal vv. | rectum and anal canal; anus | rectal venous plexus is a site of portal-caval anastomosis |
| plexus, uterine venous | multiple tributaries from the uterus; deep dorsal v. of the clitoris | uterine vv. to the internal iliac v. | uterus & uterine tubes | connects with the ovarian v. and the vaginal venous plexus |
| plexus, vaginal venous | multiple tributaries from the vagina | vaginal v. to the internal iliac v. or uterine v. | vagina | connects with the uterine venous plexus, the vesical venous plexus and the rectal venous plexus |
| plexus, vertebral venous, external | intervertebral vv. | adjacent segmental vv.; vertebral v. in the cervical region | vertebral column and associated muscles | two plexuses are described: anterior and posterior; connects with the internal vertebral venous plexus |
| plexus, vertebral venous, internal | anterior and posterior longitudinal vertebral sinuses | adjacent segmental vv. | spinal cord, meninges, vertebral column | connects with the external vertebral venous plexuses; valveless; a route for potential spread of metastases from the pelvis to the brain |
| plexus, vesical venous | multiple tributaries from the bladder in both sexes | superior and inferior vesical vv. to the internal iliac v. | urinary bladder | in the male - connects with the prostatic venous plexus and the rectal venous plexus; in the female - connects with the rectal venous plexus, uterine venous plexus and vaginal venous plexus |
| portal v. | formed by the union of the superior mesenteric v. and the splenic v.; tributaries: posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal v., right gastric v., left gastric v. | divides into right and left branches before entering the liver; into the liver sinusoids | all of the gut and its glands | portal v. connects with the vena caval drainage at 1) esophagus, 2) rectum, 3) umbilicus, 4) retroperitoneal gut structures; portal v. courses between two capillary beds (gut and liver) |
| prostatic venous plexus | deep dorsal v. of the penis | internal iliac v. | penis and the prostate gland | prostatic venous plexus is connected with the vesical venous plexus |
| pudendal, deep external | part of the drainage of the superficial dorsal v. of the penis/clitoris | femoral | skin and superficial fascia of the penis/clitoris; pubic region | deep external pudendal v. shares its region of drainage with the superficial external pudendal v. |
| pudendal, internal | deep dorsal v. of the penis/clitoris, v. of the bulb, posterior labial/scrotal v., inferior rectal v. | internal iliac | crus and bulb of the clitoris/penis; urogenital region, anal region | internal pudendal v. passes through the pudendal canal |
| pudendal, superficial external | part of the drainage of the superficial dorsal v. of the penis/clitoris | great saphenous | skin and superficial fascia of the penis/clitoris; pubic region | superficial external pudendal v. shares its region of drainage with the deep external pudendal v. |
| rectal venous plexus | no named tributaries | superior, middle & inferior rectal vv. | rectum and anal canal; anus | rectal venous plexus is a site of portal-caval anastomosis |
| superficial dorsal v. of the clitoris | no named tributaries | superficial external pudendal v. | skin and superficial fascia of the clitoris | superficial dorsal v. of the clitoris is located superficial to the deep fascia of the clitoris |
| superficial dorsal v. of the penis | no named tributaries | superficial external pudendal v. | skin and superficial fascia of the penis | superficial dorsal v. of the penis is located superficial to the deep fascia of the penis |
| superficial external pudendal v. | part of the drainage of the superficial dorsal v. of the penis/clitoris | great saphenous | skin and superficial fascia of the penis/clitoris; pubic region | superficial external pudendal v. shares its region of drainage with the deep external pudendal v. |
| testicular v. | pampiniform plexus | left: left renal v.; right: inferior vena cava | testis, ureter | left testicular v. is longer than the right testicular v. |
| uterine venous plexus | multiple tributaries from the uterus; deep dorsal v. of the clitoris | uterine vv. to the internal iliac v. | uterus & uterine tubes | connects with the ovarian v. and the vaginal venous plexus |
| vaginal venous plexus | multiple tributaries from the vagina | vaginal v. to the internal iliac v. or uterine v. | vagina | connects with the uterine venous plexus, the vesical venous plexus and the rectal venous plexus |
| vena cava, inferior | formed by the union of the paired common iliac vv; tributaries: lumbar vv. 1-4, right ovarian/testicular v., renal vv., right suprarenal v., right inferior phrenic v., hepatic vv. | right atrium | all of the body below the level of the respiratory diaphragm | the inferior vena cava is longer than the abdominal aorta |
| vertebral venous plexus, external | intervertebral vv. | adjacent segmental vv.; vertebral v. in the cervical region | vertebral column and associated muscles | two plexuses are described: anterior and posterior; connects with the internal vertebral venous plexus |
| vertebral venous plexus, internal | anterior and posterior longitudinal vertebral sinuses | adjacent segmental vv. | spinal cord, meninges, vertebral column | connects with the external vertebral venous plexuses; valveless; a route for potential spread of metastases from the pelvis to the brain |
| vesical venous plexus | multiple tributaries from the bladder in both sexes | superior and inferior vesical vv. to the internal iliac v. | urinary bladder | in the male - connects with the prostatic venous plexus and the rectal venous plexus; in the female - connects with the rectal venous plexus, uterine venous plexus and vaginal venous plexus |