Internal vertebral venous plexuses: Difference between revisions

General Information
Latin	Plexus venosus vertebralis internus
Greek
TA98
TA2
FMA
Details
System	Circulatory system
Artery
Vein
Nerve
Lymphatic drainage
Precursor
Function
Identifiers
Clinical significance
Notes

Latest revision as of 23:50, 24 February 2025

Anatomical structure of the vertebral venous system

The internal vertebral venous plexuses are a network of veins located within the vertebral column. They are part of the vertebral venous system, which plays a crucial role in the drainage of blood from the spinal cord and surrounding structures.

Anatomy[edit]

The internal vertebral venous plexuses are situated within the vertebral canal, lying in the epidural space between the dura mater and the vertebrae. They are divided into anterior and posterior components:

Anterior internal vertebral venous plexus: Located anterior to the spinal cord, this plexus runs along the posterior surfaces of the vertebral bodies.
Posterior internal vertebral venous plexus: Situated posterior to the spinal cord, this plexus is found along the anterior surfaces of the vertebral arches.

These plexuses are valveless, allowing for bidirectional blood flow, which is important for maintaining venous drainage under varying physiological conditions.

Function[edit]

The internal vertebral venous plexuses serve several important functions:

Venous drainage: They collect blood from the spinal cord, meninges, and vertebrae, and communicate with the external vertebral venous plexuses and the basivertebral veins.
Thermoregulation: The plexuses help in regulating the temperature of the spinal cord by facilitating heat exchange.
Pressure regulation: They act as a cushion to absorb pressure changes within the vertebral canal, protecting the spinal cord from mechanical stress.

Clinical significance[edit]

The internal vertebral venous plexuses are clinically significant for several reasons:

Pathway for metastasis: Due to their valveless nature, these plexuses can serve as a route for the spread of cancer cells, particularly from the pelvis and abdomen to the spine and brain.
Epidural anesthesia: Understanding the anatomy of these plexuses is crucial for the safe administration of epidural anesthesia, as inadvertent puncture can lead to complications such as hematoma.
Spinal cord compression: Conditions such as vertebral hemangiomas or epidural abscesses can compress these plexuses, leading to venous congestion and potential spinal cord compression.

Also see[edit]

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Internal vertebral venous plexuses

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-== Internal vertebral venous plexuses ==
+{{Short description|Anatomical structure of the vertebral venous system}}
+{{Infobox anatomy
+| Name         = Internal vertebral venous plexuses
+| Latin        = Plexus venosus vertebralis internus
+| Image        = Gray578.png
+| Caption      = Diagram of the vertebral venous system
+| System       = [[Circulatory system]]
+| Part of      = [[Vertebral venous system]]
+}}
-The internal vertebral venous plexuses are a network of veins located within the vertebral canal, surrounding the spinal cord. They play a crucial role in the venous drainage of the spinal cord and surrounding structures. This article will provide a detailed overview of the internal vertebral venous plexuses, including their anatomy, function, and clinical significance.
+The '''internal vertebral venous plexuses''' are a network of veins located within the vertebral column. They are part of the [[vertebral venous system]], which plays a crucial role in the drainage of blood from the spinal cord and surrounding structures.
-=== Anatomy ===
+==Anatomy==
+The internal vertebral venous plexuses are situated within the [[vertebral canal]], lying in the epidural space between the [[dura mater]] and the vertebrae. They are divided into anterior and posterior components:
-The internal vertebral venous plexuses consist of two main components: the anterior internal vertebral venous plexus and the posterior internal vertebral venous plexus.
+* '''Anterior internal vertebral venous plexus''': Located anterior to the [[spinal cord]], this plexus runs along the posterior surfaces of the vertebral bodies.
+* '''Posterior internal vertebral venous plexus''': Situated posterior to the spinal cord, this plexus is found along the anterior surfaces of the [[vertebral arches]].
-The anterior internal vertebral venous plexus is located anteriorly, between the vertebral bodies and the dura mater. It is formed by a network of veins that run along the anterior surface of the vertebral bodies. These veins receive blood from the spinal cord and its surrounding structures, such as the meninges and the intervertebral discs.
+These plexuses are valveless, allowing for bidirectional blood flow, which is important for maintaining venous drainage under varying physiological conditions.
-The posterior internal vertebral venous plexus is located posteriorly, between the dura mater and the vertebral arches. It is formed by a network of veins that run along the posterior surface of the vertebral bodies. These veins receive blood from the spinal cord and its surrounding structures, such as the posterior spinal arteries and the ligamentum flavum.
+==Function==
+The internal vertebral venous plexuses serve several important functions:
-Both the anterior and posterior internal vertebral venous plexuses communicate with each other through numerous interconnecting veins. These veins form an extensive network that allows for the free flow of blood within the vertebral canal.
+* '''Venous drainage''': They collect blood from the [[spinal cord]], [[meninges]], and vertebrae, and communicate with the external vertebral venous plexuses and the [[basivertebral veins]].
+* '''Thermoregulation''': The plexuses help in regulating the temperature of the spinal cord by facilitating heat exchange.
+* '''Pressure regulation''': They act as a cushion to absorb pressure changes within the vertebral canal, protecting the spinal cord from mechanical stress.
-=== Function ===
+==Clinical significance==
+The internal vertebral venous plexuses are clinically significant for several reasons:
-The internal vertebral venous plexuses play a crucial role in the venous drainage of the spinal cord and surrounding structures. They serve as a major pathway for the return of deoxygenated blood from the spinal cord to the systemic circulation.
+* '''Pathway for metastasis''': Due to their valveless nature, these plexuses can serve as a route for the spread of cancer cells, particularly from the [[pelvis]] and [[abdomen]] to the [[spine]] and [[brain]].
+* '''Epidural anesthesia''': Understanding the anatomy of these plexuses is crucial for the safe administration of [[epidural anesthesia]], as inadvertent puncture can lead to complications such as hematoma.
+* '''Spinal cord compression''': Conditions such as [[vertebral hemangiomas]] or [[epidural abscesses]] can compress these plexuses, leading to venous congestion and potential spinal cord compression.
-The veins of the internal vertebral venous plexuses receive blood from the spinal cord and its surrounding structures. This blood is then drained into the systemic circulation through various routes. Some of the blood may flow directly into the segmental veins, which are located along the vertebral column. From there, it may enter the azygos and hemiazygos veins, which ultimately drain into the superior vena cava.
+==Also see==
+* [[Vertebral venous system]]
+* [[Spinal cord]]
+* [[Epidural space]]
+* [[Basivertebral veins]]
-Additionally, the internal vertebral venous plexuses communicate with the external vertebral venous plexuses, which are located outside the vertebral canal. These external plexuses receive blood from the muscles and other soft tissues of the back. The communication between the internal and external plexuses allows for the exchange of blood between the spinal cord and the surrounding tissues.
+{{Anatomy-stub}}
-=== Clinical Significance ===
+[[Category:Veins of the torso]]
+[[Category:Spinal anatomy]]
-The internal vertebral venous plexuses have clinical significance in various pathological conditions. One such condition is spinal cord compression, which can occur due to the presence of a tumor or a herniated disc. In these cases, the increased pressure within the vertebral canal can lead to compression of the internal vertebral venous plexuses, resulting in impaired venous drainage from the spinal cord. This can further exacerbate the symptoms and complications associated with spinal cord compression.
+<gallery>
+File:Gray578.png|Internal vertebral venous plexuses
-Furthermore, the internal vertebral venous plexuses have been implicated in the spread of metastatic cancer to the spine. Cancer cells can enter the venous system and travel through the internal vertebral venous plexuses to reach the vertebral column. This can lead to the development of spinal metastases, which can cause pain, neurological deficits, and other complications.
+</gallery>
-In conclusion, the internal vertebral venous plexuses are an important component of the venous drainage system of the spinal cord. They play a crucial role in the return of deoxygenated blood from the spinal cord to the systemic circulation. Understanding the anatomy and function of these plexuses is essential for the diagnosis and management of various spinal cord disorders.<br>{{stub}}
-{{dictionary-stub1}}