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

, and lower vortex veins empty into the

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.

Anatomy

Course and relations

Fate

Variation

Clinical significance

Additional images

References

External links