Superior mesenteric vein
Confluence · Midgut Foregut
Ascends in the root of the mesentery to the right of the superior mesenteric artery, crossing in front of the third part of the duodenum and the uncinate process of the pancreas, and ends behind the neck of the pancreas by joining the splenic vein. It drains the whole midgut together with part of the stomach, duodenum and pancreas.
Traced from the start
Detail
- Relation
- Right of the superior mesenteric artery; anterior to the third part of the duodenum and the uncinate process
- Drains
- Midgut plus right gastro-omental and pancreaticoduodenal territories
- Ends
- Behind the neck of the pancreas, uniting with the splenic vein
When it goes wrong
Mesenteric venous thrombosis (thrombophilia, oral contraceptive, pancreatitis, cirrhosis, malignancy)
Subacute abdominal pain out of proportion to the examination, then bloody diarrhoea and bowel infarction; diagnosed on contrast CT and treated with anticoagulation
Streaming of superior mesenteric blood preferentially into the right portal branch
Traditionally invoked to explain why pyogenic and amoebic liver abscesses and colorectal metastases favour the right lobe
Practise this structure
1 question in the bank tagged Small Bowel.