The superior ophthalmic vein is a vein of 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 ...

that drains venous blood from structures of the upper orbit. It is fromed by the union of the

angular vein The angular vein is a vein of the face. It is the upper part of the facial vein, above its junction with the superior labial vein. It is formed by the junction of the supratrochlear vein and supraorbital vein, and joins with the superior labi ...

, and

supraorbital vein The supraorbital vein is a vein of the forehead. It communicates with the frontal branch of the superficial temporal vein. It passes through the supraorbital notch, and merges with the angular vein to form the superior ophthalmic vein. The supr ...

. It passes backwards within the orbit alongside the

ophthalmic artery The ophthalmic artery (OA) is an artery of the head. It is the first branch of the internal carotid artery distal to the cavernous sinus. Branches of the ophthalmic artery supply all the structures in the orbit around the eye, as well as some s ...

, then exits the orbit through the

superior orbital fissure The superior orbital fissure is a foramen or cleft of the skull between the lesser and greater wings of the sphenoid bone. It gives passage to multiple structures, including the oculomotor nerve, trochlear nerve, ophthalmic nerve, abducens ne ...

to drain into 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 ...

. The superior ophthalmic vein can be a path for the 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 and the

pterygoid plexus The pterygoid plexus (;Entry "pterygoid"
in

. It may also be affected by an

arteriovenous fistula An arteriovenous fistula is an abnormal connection or passageway between an artery and a vein. It may be congenital, surgically created for hemodialysis treatments, or acquired due to pathologic process, such as trauma or erosion of an arterial ...

of the cavernous sinus.

Structure

The superior ophthalmic vein - together with the inferior ophthalmic vein - represents the principal drainage system of the orbit (with the superior ophthalmic vein being the larger of the two). The superior ophthalmic vein drains venous blood from structures of the upper orbit. The superior ophthalmic vein is the largest and the most consistently present vein of the orbit. It usually measures 2-10 mm in diameter.

Origin

The superior ophthalmic vein is formed by the union of the

, and

. This origin is situated within the orbit near the superomedial orbital rim.

Course and relations

The superior ophthalmic vein is the only orbital vein whose course generally parallels the course of an orbital artery: it has a similar course as the

(however, the latter instead exits the orbit through the optic canal). Within the orbit, the superior ophthalmic vein passes posterior-ward alongside the ophthalmic artery. It passes inferior to the

superior rectus muscle The superior rectus muscle is a muscle in the orbit. It is one of the extraocular muscles. It is innervated by the superior division of the oculomotor nerve (III). In the primary position (looking straight ahead), its primary function is elevat ...

. It runs across the optic nerve (CN II) to reach the superior portion of the

through which it then exits the orbit to drain into the cavernous sinus.

Tributaries

Tributaries of the superior ophthalmic vein include: the anterior ethmoidal vein and posterior ethmoidal vein,

lacrimal vein The term Lacrimal or lachrymal, may refer to: Anatomy * Lacrimal apparatus * Lacrimal artery * Lacrimal bone * Lacrimal canaliculi (singular: canaliculus), also known as ''Lacrimal ducts'' * Lacrimal fossa (disambiguation) * Lacrimal fluid, see T ...

central retinal vein The central retinal vein (retinal vein) is a vein that drains the retina of the eye. It travels backwards through the centre of the optic nerve accompanied by the central retinal artery before exiting the optic nerve together with the central r ...

, superior

vorticose veins 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 ...

, medial palpebral veins, inferior ophthalmic vein, and veins from the

superior oblique muscle The superior oblique muscle, or obliquus oculi superior, is a fusiform muscle originating in the upper, medial side of the orbit (i.e. from beside the nose) which abducts, depresses and internally rotates the eye. It is the only extraocular mu ...

, and

medial rectus muscle The medial rectus muscle is a muscle in the orbit near the eye. It is one of the extraocular muscles. It originates from the common tendinous ring, and inserts into the anteromedial surface of the eye. It is supplied by the inferior division of th ...

. The tributaries/territory drained by the superior ophthalmic vein is however somewhat variable.

Fate

The superior ophthalmic vein drains into the

Clinical significance

Cavernous sinus thrombosis

The medial angle of the eye, nose and lips (known as the

) usually drain through the facial vein, via the superior ophthalmic vein through the

. An infection of the face may spread to the cavernous sinus through the superior ophthalmic vein. This can cause

cavernous sinus thrombosis 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 ...

. This can lead to damage of the nerves running through the cavernous sinus.

Arteriovenous fistula

When arteriovenous fistula affects the cavernous sinus, blood flow may occur backwards in the superior ophthalmic vein. This can cause

exophthalmos Exophthalmos (also called exophthalmus, exophthalmia, proptosis, or exorbitism) is a bulging of the eye anteriorly out of the orbit. Exophthalmos can be either bilateral (as is often seen in Graves' disease) or unilateral (as is often seen in ...

. This may be treated by embolising the superior ophthalmic vein.

References

External links

* () * {{Authority control Veins of the head and neck

Structure

Origin

Course and relations

Tributaries

Fate

Clinical significance

Cavernous sinus thrombosis

Arteriovenous fistula

See also

References

External links