vein: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	venous system • blood vein

Photos and Videos

An anatomical diagram of the human torso viewed from the front, showing the veins of the posterior abdominal wall. Major veins, including the inferior vena cava, renal veins, iliac veins, and their branches, are labeled and highlighted in blue, with surrounding organs such as the kidneys and parts of the skeletal structure visible for context.

Diagram of the circulatory system showing a red artery carrying blood from the heart, branching into smaller arterioles and capillaries, then merging into blue venules and a vein returning blood to the heart.

Anatomical illustration of the front of the human neck showing labeled veins in blue and nerves in yellow, including the facial, jugular, and transverse cervical veins, as well as the great auricular and supraclavicular nerves.

Diagram of the human torso showing the venae cavae and their major tributary veins, with labeled pathways including the jugular, subclavian, renal, iliac, and femoral veins as part of the cardiovascular system.

Understanding the human cardiovascular system

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Topics

brachial vein coronary sinus coronary vein coronary venous sinus dorsal venous arch femoral vein hemiazygous vein iliac vein innominate vein lumbar vein sinusoid blood pressure

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Key People

Sarpi, detail of a portrait (the black spot on his face covers the scar from an unsuccessful attempt on his life in 1607); in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Eng.

Paolo Sarpi

Italian theologian

Superficial arteries and veins of face and scalp, cardiovascular system, human anatomy, (Netter replacement project - SSC)

The Human Body

Male muscle, man flexing arm, bicep curl.

Facts You Should Know: The Human Body Quiz