Left gastric (coronary) vein
Confluence · Foregut
Runs along the lesser curvature with the left gastric artery, collecting the lower oesophageal veins and the lesser-curve gastric veins, then passes to the right behind the lesser sac to end in the portal vein (most often) or in the splenic vein or the splenoportal junction. The right gastric vein drains the pylorus into the portal vein separately.
Traced from the start
- Oesophageal veins (lower third)
- Left gastric (coronary) vein
Detail
- Drains
- Lesser curvature, cardia and lower oesophagus
- Termination
- Portal vein in most people; splenic vein or splenoportal junction in the rest
- Companion artery
- Left gastric artery (coeliac trunk)
When it goes wrong
Portal hypertension reversing flow in the left gastric vein (hepatofugal flow)
The route by which oesophageal and cardia varices fill; a dilated left gastric vein on Doppler or CT is a marker of portal hypertension
Practise this structure
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