Basivertebral veins

Vein: Basivertebral veins
Transverse section of a thoracic vertebra, showing the vertebral venous plexuses. (Vena basaverteb. labeled at bottom center.)
Median sagittal section of two thoracic vertebrae, showing the vertebral venous plexuses. (Vena basaverteb. labeled at bottom right.)
Latin	venae basivertebrales
Gray's	subject #172 668

The basivertebral veins emerge from the foramina on the posterior surfaces of the vertebral bodies.

They are contained in large, tortuous channels in the substance of the bones, similar in every respect to those found in the diploë of the cranial bones.

They communicate through small openings on the front and sides of the bodies of the vertebræ with the anterior external vertebral plexuses, and converge behind to the principal canal, which is sometimes double toward its posterior part, and open by valved orifices into the transverse branches which unite the anterior internal vertebral plexuses.

They become greatly enlarged in advanced age.

Additional images

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  Gray301

External links

• Atlas of anatomy at UMich abdo_wall77 - "Venous Drainage of the Vertebral Column"

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.