Superior ophthalmic vein

The superior ophthalmic vein - together with the inferior ophthalmic vein - represents the principal drainage system of the orbit (with the superior ophthalmic vein being the larger of the two).{{Cite book |last1=Semmer |first1=A. E. |chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123742032002840 |title=Encyclopedia of the Eye |last2=McLoon |first2=L. K. |last3=Lee |first3=M. S. |publisher=Academic Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-12-374203-2 |pages=241–251 |language=en |chapter=Orbital Vascular Anatomy |doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-374203-2.00284-0}} The superior ophthalmic vein drains venous blood from structures of the upper orbit. The superior ophthalmic vein forms/represents a connection between facial veins, and intracranial veins. It is valveless.{{Cite book |last=Standring |first=Susan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1201341621 |title=Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice |year=2020 |isbn=978-0-7020-7707-4 |edition=42nd |location=New York |pages=780 |oclc=1201341621}}

The superior ophthalmic vein is the largest and the most consistently present vein of the orbit. It usually measures 2-10 mm in diameter.

The superior ophthalmic vein is formed (depending upon the source) either by the union of the angular vein, and supraorbital vein, or by the union of two tributaries which connect anteriorly with the supraobrital vein, and the facial vein.

Its origin is situated within the orbit,{{Cite book|last=Remington|first=Lee Ann|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781437719260100116|title=Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of the Visual System|publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann|year=2012|isbn=978-1-4377-1926-0|edition=3rd|pages=202–217|language=en|chapter=11 - Orbital Blood Supply|doi=10.1016/B978-1-4377-1926-0.10011-6}} near the superomedial orbital rim, posteromedial to the upper eyelid.

The superior ophthalmic vein is the only orbital vein whose course generally parallels the course of an orbital artery: it has a similar course as the ophthalmic artery (however, the latter instead exits the orbit through the optic canal).

Within the orbit, the superior ophthalmic vein passes posterior-ward alongside the ophthalmic artery. It passes inferior to the superior rectus muscle, running in between this muscle and the optic nerve. It runs across the optic nerve (CN II) to reach the superior portion of the superior orbital fissure through which it then exits the orbit to drain into the cavernous sinus. It usually passes superior to the common tendinous ring on its way out of the orbit.

Tributaries of the superior ophthalmic vein (may) include: the anterior ethmoidal vein and posterior ethmoidal vein, lacrimal vein, central retinal vein (sometimes), superior vorticose veins, medial palpebral veins, inferior ophthalmic vein (sometimes), and veins from the superior rectus muscle, superior oblique muscle, and medial rectus muscle.

The tributaries/territory drained by the superior ophthalmic vein is however somewhat variable.

Structures drained by the superior ophthalmic vein includes the frontal sinus.{{Cite book |last=Sinnatamby |first=Chummy S. |title=Last's Anatomy |publisher= Elsevier Australia|year=2011 |isbn=978-0-7295-3752-0 |edition=12th |pages=377}}

The superior ophthalmic vein drains into the cavernous sinus.{{Cite book|last1=Moini|first1=Jahangir|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128174241000057|title=Functional and Clinical Neuroanatomy - A Guide for Health Care Professionals|last2=Piran|first2=Pirouz|publisher=Academic Press|year=2020|isbn=978-0-12-817424-1|pages=131–176|language=en|chapter=5 - Blood supply of the CNS|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-817424-1.00005-7|s2cid=212816072 }}

The medial angle of the eye, nose and lips (known as the danger triangle of the face) usually drain through the facial vein, via the superior ophthalmic vein through the cavernous sinus. An infection of the face may spread to the cavernous sinus through the superior ophthalmic vein.{{Cite book |last1=Semmer |first1=A. E. |chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123742032002840 |title=Encyclopedia of the Eye |last2=McLoon |first2=L. K. |last3=Lee |first3=M. S. |publisher=Academic Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-12-374203-2 |pages=241–251 |language=en |chapter=Orbital Vascular Anatomy |doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-374203-2.00284-0}} This can cause cavernous sinus thrombosis. This can lead to damage of the nerves running through the cavernous sinus.

When arteriovenous fistula affects the cavernous sinus, blood flow may occur backwards in the superior ophthalmic vein.{{Cite book|last=Fielding|first=John A.|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978070203131100047X|title=Clinical Ultrasound|publisher=Churchill Livingstone|year=2011|isbn=978-0-7020-3131-1|edition=3rd|volume=2|pages=938–964|language=en|chapter=47 - The eye and orbit|doi=10.1016/B978-0-7020-3131-1.00047-X}} This can cause exophthalmos. This may be treated by embolising the superior ophthalmic vein.{{Cite book|last1=Ahmed|first1=A.|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123851574007466|title=Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences - Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology|last2=Albuquerque|first2=F. C.|publisher=Academic Press|year=2014|isbn=978-0-12-385158-1|edition=2nd|pages=53–56|language=en|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-385157-4.00746-6}}

• Inferior ophthalmic vein

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• {{NormanAnatomy|lesson3}} ({{NormanAnatomyFig|orbit4}})
• {{cite web|url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_47/47-5.HTM |title=Figure 47-5 |website=Dartmouth.edu |access-date=2016-08-09}}

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Category:Veins of the head and neck