Definition

1. Noun:
   • A specific venous structure: The "labyrinthine vein" refers to the small veins responsible for draining deoxygenated blood from the inner ear structures, specifically the bony and membranous labyrinth.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The surgeon was careful to avoid the labyrinthine vein during the delicate inner ear procedure.
  • Obstruction of the labyrinthine vein can contribute to certain inner ear disorders.

Advanced Usage

• Anatomical context: The term is almost exclusively used in medical, anatomical, or otological contexts. It is a precise term for a specific structure.
  • The study traced the pathway of the labyrinthine vein as it joined the larger venous sinuses.

Variants and Related Words

• Labyrinthine arteries: The arteries that supply oxygenated blood the inner ear, often discussed alongside the veins.
• Internal auditory vein: A related term sometimes used synonymously or to describe a specific part of the venous drainage.

Synonyms

• Internal auditory vein(s): A closely related anatomical term for the venous drainage of the inner ear region.

Related Phrases

• Venous drainage of the labyrinth: A descriptive phrase meaning the same as "labyrinthine vein."
• Drain the inner ear: The functional description of what the labyrinthine vein does.

Noun

1. veins that drain the inner ear