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Encyclopedia > Veins

In biology, a vein is a blood vessel which carries blood toward the heart. Veins form part of the circulatory system. The vessels that carry blood away from the heart are known as arteries. Biology is the branch of science dealing with the study of life. ... The arterial system The blood vessels are part of the circulatory system and function to transport blood throughout the body. ... Human blood smear: a - erythrocytes; b - neutrophil; c - eosinophil; d - lymphocyte. ... The heart and lungs, from an older edition of Grays Anatomy. ... Human circulatory system. ... Section of an artery An arterial road is a class of highway. ...

Cross section of a vein showing a valve which prevents backflow
Cross section of a vein showing a valve which prevents backflow

Contents

Diagram of a cross section of a vein with valves. ...


Function

In systemic circulation de-oxygenated blood from the capillary blood vessels is taken by veins to the right part of the heart. As an exception, in the pulmonary circulation oxygenated blood from the lungs is taken to the left part of the heart by pulmonary veins. Systemic circulation is the portion of the cardiovascular system which carries oxygenated blood away from the heart, to the body, and returns oxygen-depleted blood back to the heart. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 15. ... Capillaries are the smallest of a bodys blood vessels, measuring 5-10 μm. ... Pulmonary circulation is the portion of the cardiovascular system which carries oxygen-depleted blood away from the heart, to the lungs, and returns oxygenated blood back to the heart. ... The lungs flank the heart and great vessels in the chest cavity. ... The pulmonary veins carry oxygen rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart. ...


Another special case is portal circulation where the portal vein transports blood rich in products of digestion from the intestines to the liver. Circulation of blood to the liver from the small intestine via the portal vein. ... The portal vein is a major vein in the human body draining blood from the digestive system and its associated glands. ... The intestine is the portion of the alimentary canal extending from the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine. ... The liver is the largest internal organ of the human body. ...


Anatomy

Veins have one-way valves called venous valve to prevent backflow caused by gravity. They also have a thick collagen outer layer, which helps maintain blood pressure and stop blood pooling. The hollow internal cavity in which the blood flows is called the lumen. Tropocollagen triple helix. ... Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels. ... The lumen is the interior of a vessel within the body, such as the small central space in an artery or vein, or any of their relating vessels, down which blood flows. ...


Notable veins and vein systems

Names of important veins:

Names of important venule systems: The pulmonary veins carry oxygen rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart. ... The portal vein is a major vein in the human body draining blood from the digestive system and its associated glands. ... Superior vena cava - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... This article may be too technical for most readers to understand. ... In the human body, the femoral vein is a blood vessel that accompanies the femoral artery in the same sheath. ... Great saphenous vein and its tributaries. ...

In human anatomy, the portal venous system is the system of veins that drain into the portal vein. ... In human anatomy, the systemic venous system is the veins that drain into the right atrium without passing through two vascular beds (i. ...

Medical interest

Venous valves prevent reverse blood flow.
Venous valves prevent reverse blood flow.

Veins are used medically as points of access to the blood stream, permitting the withdrawal of blood specimens (venipuncture) for testing purposes, and enabling the infusion of fluid, electrolytes, nutrition, and medications. The latter is called intravenous delivery. It can be done by an injection with a syringe, or by inserting a catheter (a flexible tube). Image File history File links Venous_valve. ... Image File history File links Venous_valve. ... Venipuncture using a vacutainer. ... An electrolyte is a substance that dissociates into free ions when dissolved (or molten), to produce an electrically conductive medium. ... A syringe consists of a plunger fitted to a tube, called the barrel, which has a small opening on one end. ... Catheter disassembled In medicine, a catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity duct or vessel. ...


If an intravenous catheter has to be inserted, for most purposes this is done into a peripheral vein (a vein near the surface of the skin in the hand or arm, or less desirably, the leg.) Some highly concentrated fluids or irritating medications must flow into the large central veins, which are sometimes used when peripheral access cannot be obtained. Catheters can be threaded into the superior vena cava for these uses: if long term use is thought to be needed, a more permanent access point can be inserted surgically. A human hand typically has four fingers and a thumb. ... In anatomy, an arm is one of the upper limbs of a two-legged animal. ... Shaved female legs In common usage, a human leg is the lower limb of the body, extending from the hip to the ankle, and including the thigh, the knee, and the cnemis. ...


The precise location of veins is much more variable from person to person than that of arteries.


Why are veins green?

In the light, blood appears red because most colors are absorbed except for red, which bounces back from the blood. Every colour but red is absorbed by the oxygen-carrying pigment hemoglobin (Hb). If a filter that blocks the reflected color is positioned between the blood and the eyes of the person watching, the perceived color changes. In the case of humans, the skin serves as a filter for the color red, and the remaining color ends up being green. The exact color spectra is determined by the relative levels of oxygenated iron (HbO) and CO2 in the blood. High oxygen reflects red and high CO2 reflects blue, which mixed with the yellowish color of the fat and/or skin ends up showing as green. 3-dimensional structure of hemoglobin. ... Carbon dioxide is an atmospheric gas comprised of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ...


See also


Deep vein is a term used to describe a vein that is deep in the body. ... This article is about Deep-vein thrombosis. ... Superficial vein is a term used to describe a vein that is close to the surface of the body. ... Varicose veins are veins on the leg which are large, twisted, and ropelike, and can cause pain, swelling, or itching. ...

Veins edit

pulmonary: (Gray's s165) The pulmonary veins carry oxygen rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart. ... An illustration from the 1918 edition Henry Grays Anatomy of the Human Body, commonly known as Grays Anatomy, is an anatomy textbook widely regarded as a classic work on human anatomy. ...


HEAD: jugular - diploic veins - vein of Galen - superior ophthalmic | (Gray's s166-Gray's s171) A human head In anatomy, the head of an animal is the anterior part (from anatomical position) that usually comprises the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth (all of which aid in various sensory functions, such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste). ... Jugular vein - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The diploic veins are found in the skull, and drain the diploic space. ... The vein of Galen (VG), also known as the great cerebral vein, is one of the large blood vessels in the skull draining the cerebrum (brain). ... Superior ophthalmic vein - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... An illustration from the 1918 edition Henry Grays Anatomy of the Human Body, commonly known as Grays Anatomy, is an anatomy textbook widely regarded as a classic work on human anatomy. ... An illustration from the 1918 edition Henry Grays Anatomy of the Human Body, commonly known as Grays Anatomy, is an anatomy textbook widely regarded as a classic work on human anatomy. ...


UPPER EXTREMITY: superficial (cephalic - median cubital - basilic) - deep (radial - ulnar - brachial - axillary - subclavian) | (Gray's s172) In humans, the upper limb is an anatomical term for the limb that is attached to the pectoral girdle. ... Superficial vein is a term used to describe a vein that is close to the surface of the body. ... This vein is located in the superficial fascia along the anterolateral surface of the biceps brachii muscle and is often visible through the skin. ... Superficial veins of the upper limb. ... In human anatomy, the basilic vein is a superficial vein of the upper limb. ... Deep vein is a term used to describe a vein that is deep in the body. ... In anatomy, the radial vein is the main blood vessel, with de-oxygenated blood, of the lateral aspect of the forearm. ... In anatomy, the ulnar vein is the main blood vessel, with de-oxygenated blood, of the medial aspect of the forearm. ... In human anatomy, the brachial vein is a deep vein of the upper limb. ... Anterior view of right upper limb and thorax - axillary vein and the distal part of the basilic vein and cephalic vein. ... The subclavian vein is a continuation of the axillary vein and runs from the outer border of the first rib to the medial border of anterior scalene muscle. ... An illustration from the 1918 edition Henry Grays Anatomy of the Human Body, commonly known as Grays Anatomy, is an anatomy textbook widely regarded as a classic work on human anatomy. ...


THORAX: brachiocephalic - internal thoracic - venae cavae - superior vena cava - azygos - hemiazygos | (Gray's s172) Diagram of a tsetse fly, showing the head, thorax and abdomen The thorax is a division of an animals body that lies between the head and the abdomen. ... The Brachiocephalic vein is also known as the innominate vein, the left and right brachiocephalic veins in the upper chest are formed by the union of each corresponding jugular vein and subclavian vein. ... Veins of the thorax and abdomen. ... The brachiocephalic veins, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, azygos vein and their tributaries The superior and inferior venae cavae are the veins that return the blood from the body into the heart. ... Superior vena cava - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The azygos vein is so named because it is unpaired, having no matching vein on the left side of the body. ... The Hemiazygos Vein (vena azygos minor inferior) begins in the left ascending lumbar or renal vein. ... An illustration from the 1918 edition Henry Grays Anatomy of the Human Body, commonly known as Grays Anatomy, is an anatomy textbook widely regarded as a classic work on human anatomy. ...


LOWER EXTREMITY: great saphenous - small saphenous - posterior tibial - peroneal - anterior tibial - popliteal - femoral - profunda femoris - external iliac - inferior epigastric - superior epigastric - common iliac - inferior vena cava - renal - hepatic | (Gray's s173) In humans, the lower limb is an anatomical term for the limb that is attached to the pelvic girlde, what is commonly referred to as the leg. ... Great saphenous vein and its tributaries. ... Small saphenous vein and its tributaries. ... In anatomy, the posterior tibial vein of the lower limb carries blood from the posterior compartment and plantar surface of the foot to the popliteal vein which is forms when it joins with the anterior tibial vein. ... In anatomy, the peroneal vein (also known as the fibular vein) of the lower limb carries blood from the lateral compartment of the leg to the popliteal vein. ... In human anatomy, the anterior tibial vein of the lower limb carries blood from the anterior compartment of the leg to the popliteal vein which is forms when it joins with the posterior tibial vein. ... The politeal vein parrallels the popliteal artery but carries the blood from the knee joint and muscles in the thigh and calf back to the heart. ... In the human body, the femoral vein is a blood vessel that accompanies the femoral artery in the same sheath. ... Profunda femoris vein is a large vein in the thigh. ... Veins of the abdomen and lower limb - inferior vena cava, common iliac vein, external iliac vein, internal iliac vein, femoral vein and their tributaries. ... Right inferior epigastric vein - view from inside of abdomen. ... In human anatomy, superior epigastric vein refers to a blood vessel that carries deoxygenated blood and drains into the internal thoracic vein. ... The common iliac veins are formed by the external iliac veins and internal iliac veins and together, in the abdomen at about the level of the umbilicus, form the inferior vena cava. ... This article may be too technical for most readers to understand. ... Kidneys viewed from behind with spine removed The kidneys are bean-shaped excretory organs in vertebrates. ... Superior vena cava, inferior vena cava (IVC), azygos vein and their tributaries. ... An illustration from the 1918 edition Henry Grays Anatomy of the Human Body, commonly known as Grays Anatomy, is an anatomy textbook widely regarded as a classic work on human anatomy. ...


PORTAL: portal - splenic - superior mesenteric - inferior mesenteric | (Gray's s174) The portal vein is a major vein in the human body draining blood from the digestive system and its associated glands. ... The portal vein is a major vein in the human body draining blood from the digestive system and its associated glands. ... The portal vein and its tributaries - the largest are the superior mesenteric vein and splenic vein. ... The portal vein and its tributaries. ... The portal vein and its tributaries. ... An illustration from the 1918 edition Henry Grays Anatomy of the Human Body, commonly known as Grays Anatomy, is an anatomy textbook widely regarded as a classic work on human anatomy. ...


FETAL: ductus venosus - umbilical | (Gray's s139) Fetus at eight weeks A fetus (alternatively foetus or fœtus) is an embryo in later stages of development, from the third month of pregnancy until birth in humans. ... In the fetus, the ductus venosus connects the left umbilical vein with the upper inferior vena cava. ... Fetal circulation; the umbilical vein is the large, red vessel at the far left The umbilical vein is a blood vessel present during fetal development that carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the growing fetus. ... An illustration from the 1918 edition Henry Grays Anatomy of the Human Body, commonly known as Grays Anatomy, is an anatomy textbook widely regarded as a classic work on human anatomy. ...

Cardiovascular system - edit
Blood  |  Heart → Aorta → Arteries → Arterioles → Capillaries → Venules → Veins → Vena cava → Heart → Pulmonary arteries → Lungs → Pulmonary veins → Heart

  Results from FactBites:
 
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Venous Disorders: Merck Manual Home Edition (2103 words)
For example, deep vein thrombosis may develop in people who have had a heart attack and lie in hospital beds for several days without sufficiently moving their legs or in people whose legs and lower body are paralyzed (paraplegics).
When deep vein thrombosis blocks blood flow in a large leg vein, the calf swells and may be painful, tender to the touch, and warm.
Sometimes, a filter (umbrella) is placed inside a large vein between the heart and the area affected by deep vein thrombosis, usually the inferior vena cava, which returns blood to the heart from the lower part of the body.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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