Tributary
Tributary
Tributary (pronunciation: /ˈtrɪb.jʊ.ter.i/) is a term used in medicine and anatomy to describe a smaller structure that leads into a larger one, similar to how a small river or stream flows into a larger body of water in geography. The term is derived from the Latin word tributarius, meaning "paying tribute".
Usage in Medicine
In the field of medicine, a tributary often refers to a smaller vein or artery that leads into a larger one. For example, the great saphenous vein has many tributaries that drain blood from the leg and foot. Similarly, the portal vein in the liver is formed by the union of its tributaries, the splenic vein and the superior mesenteric vein.
Related Terms
- Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood towards the heart.
- Artery: A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
- Great saphenous vein: The largest vein in the human body, it is a significant tributary of the femoral vein.
- Portal vein: A major vein in the human body that supplies the liver with blood from the digestive organs and spleen.
- Splenic vein: A blood vessel that drains blood from the spleen, it is a tributary of the portal vein.
- Superior mesenteric vein: A blood vessel that drains blood from the small intestine and portions of the large intestine, it is a tributary of the portal vein.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Tributary
- Wikipedia's article - Tributary
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