Vein
A blood vessel that carries blood that is low in oxygen content from the body back to the heart. The deoxygenated form of hemoglobin (deoxy-hemoglobin) in venous blood makes it appear dark. Veins are part of the afferent wing of the circulatory system, which returns blood to the heart. In contrast, an artery is a vessel that carries blood that is high in oxygen away from the heart to the body.
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- Vein of Galen aneurysm
A congenital malformation of blood vessels of the brain. Specifically, an arteriovenous (AV) malformation in which blood shunts from cerebral arteries into a dilated vein of Galen (an internal cerebral vein). In newborns this shunt can cause high cardiac output and heart failure. In infants this AV malformation can obstruct the Aqueduct of Sylvius, a […]
- Vein, brachial
A vein that accompanies the brachial artery between the shoulder and the elbow. The route of the brachial artery is from the shoulder down to the elbow, whereas that of the brachial vein is in the reverse direction — from the elbow back up to the shoulder. Veins often appear to accompany arteries while the […]
- Vein, central retinal
The blood vessel that carries blood away from the retina of the eye. The counterpart to the central retinal vein is the central retinal artery, the vessel that carries blood into the eye and supplies nutrition to the retina.
- Vein, external jugular
The more superficial of the two jugular veins situated on each side of the neck. The other is the internal jugular vein. They drain blood from the head, brain, face and neck and convey it toward the heart. The external jugular vein collects most of the blood from the outside of the skull and the […]
- Vein, great saphenous
The larger of the two saphenous veins, the principal veins that run up the leg superficially (near the surface). The great saphenous vein goes from the foot all the way up to the saphenous opening, an oval aperture in the broad fascia of the thigh, a fibrous membrane through which the vein passes. The other […]