Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small vein that drains blood from the pericardium: A "pericardial vein" is one of several small blood vessels that collect deoxygenated blood from the pericardium (the membranous sac surrounding the heart) and return it to the venous system.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The surgeon carefully avoided the pericardial veins during the procedure.
  • Blockage in a pericardial vein is a rare but possible complication.

Advanced Usage

• Anatomical context: The term is primarily used in medical, anatomical, and surgical descriptions. It is often mentioned in the plural form ("pericardial veins") as they are typically a group of vessels.
  • The study mapped the drainage pathways of the pericardial veins.

Variants and Related Words

• Pericardial (adjective): Of or relating to the pericardium.
  • Pericardial fluid; pericardial sac.
• Vein of the pericardium: An alternative descriptive phrase for a pericardial vein.

Synonyms

• Vena pericardia (Latin-derived technical term).

Notes on Meaning

• The "pericardial vein" refers specifically to the veins originating from the pericardium itself. It is distinct from, though located near, the major cardiac veins that drain the heart muscle (myocardium).

Noun

1. several small veins from the pericardium