Definition

Noun: A tributary of the portal vein that drains blood from the intestines. It is formed by the convergence of veins from the small and large intestines and travels within the mesentery, the fold of membrane that attaches the intestine to the abdominal wall, to deliver blood to the liver via the portal vein.

Usage

The term is used in medical, anatomical, and biological contexts to describe a specific vein within the abdominal cavity. * The surgeon carefully avoided the vena mesenterica during the intestinal procedure. * A blockage in the vena mesenterica can lead to serious medical complications, such as mesenteric ischemia.

Advanced Usage

• Superior mesenteric vein: This is the full and more precise anatomical name for the . It specifically drains blood from the small intestine, cecum, ascending colon, and transverse colon.
  • The scan showed a clot in the superior mesenteric vein.
• Inferior mesenteric vein: This is a separate vein that drains a different section of the colon (descending and sigmoid colon) and typically joins the splenic vein, which then connects to the portal vein. It is not synonymous with .

Variants and Related Words

• Mesenteric vein: A more common English synonym, often used interchangeably with .
• Portal vein: The major vein to which the is a primary tributary, carrying nutrient-rich blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver.
• Mesentery: The double layer of peritoneum that suspends the jejunum and ileum from the posterior wall of the abdomen and contains the .

Synonyms

• Mesenteric vein
• Superior mesenteric vein (specific)

Related Anatomical Structures

• Splenic vein: Often joins with the superior mesenteric vein to form the portal vein.
• Hepatic portal system: The entire system of veins, including the , that carry blood from the abdominal organs to the liver.

Noun

1. a tributary of the portal vein passing from the intestine between the two layers of mesentery