oesophageal veins
A doctor points to a diagram of the oesophageal veins during a medical lecture.
Noun 1. Small veins from the esophagus emptying into the brachiocephalic vein or the azygos veins: A set of small blood vessels that drain deoxygenated blood from the walls of the esophagus (the tube connecting the throat to the stomach). These veins connect to larger veins in the chest, specifically the brachiocephalic vein or the azygos veins, which then return the blood to the heart.
The term oesophageal veins is used exclusively in medical and anatomical contexts to describe a specific part of the human circulatory system. * The oesophageal veins form an important network for venous drainage from the esophagus. * In portal hypertension, increased pressure can cause the oesophageal veins to become enlarged and fragile.
- The surgeon carefully avoided the oesophageal veins during the procedure.
- A rupture of the oesophageal veins is a serious medical emergency.
- The anatomy textbook detailed the connections of the oesophageal veins to the azygos system.
- Clinical Significance: The oesophageal veins are clinically significant because they create a portosystemic anastomosis (a connection between the portal venous system and the systemic venous system). When there is high blood pressure in the portal vein (portal hypertension), such as in liver cirrhosis, these veins can become varicose, forming oesophageal varices. These varices are prone to life-threatening bleeding.
- Esophageal veins: The American English spelling of oesophageal veins.
- Venae oesophageae: The formal Latin anatomical term.
- Oesophageal varices (noun): Abnormally enlarged and swollen oesophageal veins, a pathological condition.
- Azygos vein (noun): One of the major veins in the chest into which the oesophageal veins may drain.
- Brachiocephalic vein (noun): Another major vein in the upper chest that may receive blood from the oesophageal veins.
- There are no direct common-language synonyms. In technical anatomical language, venae oesophageae is an exact synonym.
- Portosystemic collateral circulation: A network of veins, which includes the oesophageal veins, that opens up to bypass a blocked portal vein.
- Upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A condition for which bleeding oesophageal varices are a major cause.
A doctor points to a diagram of the oesophageal veins during a medical lecture.
- small veins from the esophagus emptying into the brachiocephalic vein or the azygos veins