In human anatomy, the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) is a blood vessel that drains blood from the large intestine. It usually terminates when reaching the splenic vein, which goes on to form the portal vein with the superior mesenteric vein (SMV). Anatomical variations include the IMV draining into the confluence of the SMV and splenic vein and the IMV draining in the SMV.

The IMV lies to the right of the similarly name artery, the inferior mesenteric artery, which originates from the abdominal aorta.

Tributaries of the inferior mesenteric vein drain the large intestine, sigmoid colon and rectum and include the

• left colic vein,
• sigmoid veins and
• superior rectal vein.

External links

• The Portal System of Veins - Gray's Anatomy
• Inferior mesenteric vein - The Encyclopaedia of Medical Imaging Volume II

Veins | Abdomen

Veine mésentérique inférieure