Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)
Superior mesenteric vein
Vena mesenterica superior
- Origin
- Begins in the right iliac fossa from the confluence of ileocolic, right colic, and ileal veins
- Insertion
- Ascends in the mesentery to the right of the SMA, passing anterior to the third duodenum to unite with the splenic vein forming the portal vein
- Function
- Drains the small intestine, cecum, appendix, ascending colon, and transverse colon into the portal system
- Innervation
- Superior mesenteric plexus
- Movement & chain
- Postprandial hyperemic venous flow
- Palpation
- Not palpated directly
- Clinical
- Mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT; cause of acute mesenteric ischemia characterized by bowel wall edema), tumor encasement in pancreatic adenocarcinoma determining surgical resectability.
- Segmental innervation
- T9-T11 spinal levels
- In clinical practice
- Prompt systemic anticoagulation in acute MVT, CT assessment of vascular abutment prior to pancreaticoduodenectomy
- Region in the model
- Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)