The angular vein is a

vein Veins are blood vessels in humans and most other animals that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated b ...

of the

face The face is the front of an animal's head that features the eyes, nose and mouth, and through which animals express many of their emotions. The face is crucial for human identity, and damage such as scarring or developmental deformities may aff ...

. It is the upper part of the

facial vein The facial vein (or anterior facial vein) is a relatively large vein in the human face. It commences at the side of the root of the nose and is a direct continuation of the angular vein where it also receives a small nasal branch. It lies behind t ...

, above its junction with the

superior labial vein The superior labial vein is the vein receiving blood from the upper lip The lips are the visible body part at the mouth of many animals, including humans. Lips are soft, movable, and serve as the opening for food intake and in the articulatio ...

. It is formed by the junction of the supratrochlear vein and supraorbital vein, and joins with the

. It drains the medial canthus, and parts of the

nose A nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the nostrils, or nares, which receive and expel air for respiration alongside the mouth. Behind the nose are the olfactory mucosa and the sinuses. Behind the nasal cavity, air next passes th ...

and the

upper lip The lips are the visible body part at the mouth of many animals, including humans. Lips are soft, movable, and serve as the opening for food intake and in the articulation of sound and speech. Human lips are a tactile sensory organ, and can be ...

. It can be a route of spread of infection from the

danger triangle of the face The danger triangle of the face consists of the area from the corners of the mouth to the bridge of the nose, including the nose and maxilla. Due to the special nature of the blood supply to the human nose and surrounding area, it is possible, ...

to the

cavernous sinus The cavernous sinus within the human head is one of the dural venous sinuses creating a cavity called the lateral sellar compartment bordered by the temporal bone of the skull and the sphenoid bone, lateral to the sella turcica. Structure The cave ...

Structure

The angular vein is the upper part of the

, above its junction with the

. It it anastomoses with the supratrochlear vein, and the supraorbital vein. Its connection with the supraorbital vein forms the superior ophthalmic vein that drains through the

orbit In celestial mechanics, an orbit is the curved trajectory of an object such as the trajectory of a planet around a star, or of a natural satellite around a planet, or of an artificial satellite around an object or position in space such as a p ...

. This also connects it with the

inferior ophthalmic vein The inferior ophthalmic vein is a vein of the orbit that - together with the superior ophthalmic vein - represents the principal drainage system of the orbit. It begins from a venous network in the front of the orbit, then passes backwards throu ...

and the

. These do not have

valves A valve is a device or natural object that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically fitting ...

. The angular vein itself may not contain valves. It receives the lateral nasal veins from the

ala of the nose The human nose is the most protruding part of the face. It bears the nostrils and is the first organ of the respiratory system. It is also the principal organ in the olfactory system. The shape of the nose is determined by the nasal bones a ...

, and the inferior palpebral vein. The angular vein lies lateral to the angular nerve. It runs obliquely downward by the side of the nose. It passes under

zygomaticus major muscle The zygomaticus major muscle is a muscle of the human body. It extends from each zygomatic arch (cheekbone) to the corners of the mouth. It is a muscle of facial expression which draws the angle of the mouth superiorly and posteriorly to allow one ...

. It joins with the

Function

The angular vein drains the medial canthus, and parts of the

and the

Clinical significance

The angular vein may be affected by a

thrombus A thrombus (plural thrombi), colloquially called a blood clot, is the final product of the blood coagulation step in hemostasis. There are two components to a thrombus: aggregated platelets and red blood cells that form a plug, and a mesh of c ...

. This can create problems for endovascular treatment.

Cavernous sinus thrombosis

Any

infection An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable dise ...

of the mouth or face (such as the

) can spread to the

via the angular veins. This is particularly as the veins are

valveless The Valveless was an English automobile manufactured, after lengthy development, from 1908 until 1915 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. The successor to the Ralph Lucas Valveless, the car marked the entry of the David Brown & Sons group into the m ...

. This can cause

thrombosis Thrombosis (from Ancient Greek "clotting") is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system. When a blood vessel (a vein or an artery) is injured, the body uses platelets (thro ...

. Squeezing

pimples A pimple is a kind of comedo that results from excess sebum and dead skin cells getting trapped in the pores of the skin. In its aggravated state, it may evolve into a pustule or papules. Pimples can be treated by acne medications, antibiotics, ...

in this area should be avoided.

Additional images

Image:Gray515.png, Bloodvessels of the eyelids, front view. Image:Lateral head anatomy detail.jpg, Lateral head anatomy detail Image:Head ap anatomy.jpg, Head anatomy anterior view

References

External links

* http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_47/47-5.HTM {{Authority control Veins of the head and neck