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Veins

Ashley Davidoff MD

The Common Vein Copyright 2010

Introduction

Miodsagittal View – The Veins of the Frontal Parietal and Occipital Lobes

The midsagittal section view of brain reveals the dark vascular structures that lie in the sulci of the frontal parietal and occipital lobes.  The arteries are empty of blood best exemplified as two whiter structures anterior to the genu of the corpus callosum (cc)

The distinction between the character of the cerebral cortex which has a creamy color and the white matter exemplified by the corpus callosum (cc white), and the midbrain (mb), pons (p) and medulla (m) which are off white in color  as opposed to the color of the cerebellum  (c) which is light salmon pink in color.

The relative sizes of the forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain are also well appreciated in this section.

Image Courtesy of Thomas W.Smith, MD; Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School. 97805b01

Forebrain

The veins that drain into the sinuses are divided into to two systems ; superficial and deep

Superficial System

The superficial system consists of two divisions; superior and inferior

Superior System

There are 10-15 superior cerebral veins that drains syuperior surface of hemispheres that includes the frontal and parietal lobes.  These veins drain into the superior sagittal sinus.  The veins then run in the subarachnoid space, and for a short distance in the subdural space before enetering superior sagittal sinus.  When they are within the subdural space they are vulnerable to tearing.

Inferior System

The inferior cerebral veins drain drain the lower inferior  surface of hemispheres including the temporal and occipital lobes.  hey drain into the transverse sinus and the superior petrosal sinus.

The most consistent vessel of the inferior cerebral veins is  the middle cerebral vein which runs along the Sylvian fissure and drains in to the cavernous sinus.  It is through this vessel that the superior and inferior systems connect.

The superior anastomotic vein of Trolard  connects the middle cerebral vein (and hence the inferior cerebral vein) with a superior cerebral vein.

The inferior  anastomotic vein of Labbe connects the superficial middle vein with the transverse sinus

Deep System

The single vessel responsible fror draining the deep system ids the vein of Galen.

The Final Common Pathway into the Sinuses – Vein of Galen

In this diagram the vein of Galen (blue text) is the common pathway of the deep veins of the brain, and it enters the straight sinus which lies on the superior edge of the tentorium. In addition, the diagram in the parasagittal plane, shows the basic plan of the dural sinuses and relationship to the tentorium and falx. The superior sagittal sinus runs on the superior aspect of the falx and abuts the vertex of the skull. It usually empties into the right transverse sinus. The inferior sagittal sinus runs on the inferior aspect of the falx and empties into the straight sinus which in turn tends to empty into the left transverse sinus The transverse sinuses in turn empty into the sigmoid sinuses which exit the skull to enter the internal jugular veins.

Courtesy Ashley Davidoff MD Copyright 2010 All rights reserved 98057b05.81Ls

The vein of Galen receives two major branches; internal cerebral vcein and the vein of Rosenthal..  The basal vein of Rosenthal receives its branches

The vein of Galen drains into the straight sinus.

Veins of the Brain

The diagram shows a venogram of the dural sinuses and highlighting the veins of the brain in lateral projection. The superficial veins (ringed in purple) consist of superior and inferior cerebral veins (not labeled). A branch of the inferior cerebral vein called the middle cerebral vein (not shown) provides collateral (vein of Trollard (purple ring)) that connects the inferior cerebral vein with the superior system by utilizing one of the superior cerebral veins. The vein of Labbe connects the middle cerebral vein with the transverse sinus . The common vein for the deep system (ringed in green) is the vein of Galen which empties into the straight sinus. It receives vessels from the internal cerebral vein and the vein of Rosenthal (both ringed in green) Image Courtesy Elisa Flower MD and Alex Norbash MD Copyright 2010 All rights reserved 97627b01.81s

MRI of the Cortical Veins

This axial MRI using ?venous BOLD” sequence enables the visualization of the normal cortical veins.

Courtesy Philips Medical Systems 92394.8

Midbrain and Hindbrain veins

There are  superior and inferior cerebellar venous systems and pontine and medullary venous systems.

Applied Biology

Temperoparietal AVM Large Feeding Artery and Large Draining Vein

The MRA with 2d TOF in the coronal projection (a) and in the axial projection(b). It shows an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in the right temperoparietal region fed by an enlarged middle cerebral artery (red arrow) and draining into a large draining vein (blue arrow) resulting in an enlarged transverse sinus. Note the difference in size between the right and left transverse sinuses.

Courtesy Philips Medical Systems  92465c01L.8

Vein of Galen Aneurysm – 4day Old with AVM

The MRI with a T1 weighted axial sequence (a,b) and with 3d TOF (c,d) shows a large aneurysm of the vein of Galen (dark blue (b,d) an enlarged straight sinus (light blue b) and enlarged draining transverse sinus and sigmoid sinus (c,d) The feeding vessels of the arteriovenous malformation (AVM) which is the cause of the aneurysm, seem to arise predominantly from the vertebro-basilar system and likely from the posterior cerebral artery, but the middle cerebral artery also appears to contribute to the AVM.

Courtesy Philips Medical Systems 92432cL.9

Extensive Cerebral Varicocities – AVM

Caput Medusa

Exetnsive varicocities are seen in the parieto-occipital regionin the 2D TOF and volume rendered image. The draining transverse sinus and sigmoid sinus are also enlarged.

Courtesy Philips Medical Systems 92455c.8