The vorticose veins, referred to clinically as the vortex veins,
are veins that drain the
choroid
The choroid, also known as the choroidea or choroid coat, is a part of the uvea, the vascular layer of the eye, and contains connective tissues, and lies between the retina and the sclera. The human choroid is thickest at the far extreme rear ...
of the eye. There are usually 4-5 vorticose veins in each eye, with at least one vorticose vein per each quadrant of the eye. Vorticose veins drain into the
superior ophthalmic vein
The superior ophthalmic vein is a vein of the orbit that drains venous blood from structures of the upper orbit. It is fromed by the union of the angular vein, and supraorbital vein. It passes backwards within the orbit alongside the ophthalmic ...
, and
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 ...
.
Vorticose veins are an important ophthalmoscopic landmark.
Anatomy
Course and relations
Vorticose veins exit the eyeball 6 mm posterior to its equator.
Fate
Upper vortex veins empty into the
superior ophthalmic vein
The superior ophthalmic vein is a vein of the orbit that drains venous blood from structures of the upper orbit. It is fromed by the union of the angular vein, and supraorbital vein. It passes backwards within the orbit alongside the ophthalmic ...
, and lower vortex veins empty into 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 ...
.
Variation
The number of vorticose veins is known to vary from 4 to 8, with about 65% of the normal population having 4 or 5
with at least one vein in each quadrant.
Clinical significance
Vorticose veins are an important ophthalmoscopic landmark.
They can be visualised in a dilated pupil using an indirect ophthalmoscope.
Additional images
File:Sobo 1909 744.png, The blood-vessels of the eyeball (diagrammatic).
References
External links
Veins of the head and neck
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