In anatomy, the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) is a blood vessel that drains blood from the small intestine (jejunum and ileum). It terminates when reaching the portal vein, which it forms with the splenic vein. It lies to the right of the similarly name artery, the superior mesenteric artery, which originates from the abdominal aorta.

Tributaries of the superior mesenteric vein drain the large intestine, stomach, pancreas and appendix and include the

• gastroepiploic vein,
• inferior pancreaticoduodenal veins,
• middle colic vein,
• right colic vein and
• ileocolic vein.

Disorders

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Thrombosis of the superior mesenteric vein is quite rare, but a significant cause of mesenteric ischemia and can be fatal. It is estimated that 10-15% of mesenteric ischemia is due to mesenteric thrombosis.

Reference

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1. Tessier DJ, Williams RA, Mesenteric ischemic thrombosis, eMedicine, URL: http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2753.htm, Accessed July 30, 2005.

External links

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

Veins | Abdomen

Veine mésentérique supérieure