Definition

1. Noun:
   • Veins that drain the spinal cord: A spinal vein is a blood vessel that carries deoxygenated blood away from the spinal cord and back toward the heart.

Usage

• The term is a specific anatomical term. It is typically used in medical, biological, or scientific contexts to describe the venous drainage system of the spinal cord.
• It is often discussed in relation to other spinal structures, such as the spinal arteries or the vertebral column.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The surgeon was careful to avoid the major spinal vein during the procedure.
  • A blockage in a spinal vein can lead to serious neurological complications.
  • The study mapped the network of spinal veins in the thoracic region.

Advanced Usage

• "Anterior spinal vein" and "Posterior spinal vein": These are the primary paired vessels that run along the front (anterior) and back (posterior) surfaces of the spinal cord, collecting blood from it.
  • The anterior spinal vein is often larger and more prominent than its posterior counterpart.

Variants and Related Words

• Spinal venous plexus (n): A network of interconnected veins surrounding the spinal column.
  • The blood flows from the spinal vein into the larger spinal venous plexus.
• Venous drainage (n): The process or system by which veins carry blood away from an organ or tissue.
  • Understanding the venous drainage of the spinal cord is crucial for neurosurgeons.

Synonyms

• Vena spinalis: The Latin or formal medical term for .

Notes on Meaning

• The is distinct from the vertebral vein, which drains the vertebrae (bones of the spine) rather than the spinal cord tissue itself.
• It is part of the central nervous system's circulatory system, working in tandem with spinal arteries that supply oxygenated blood.

Noun

1. veins that drain the spinal cord