The cardinal veins within the abdomen have a complex pattern of drainage which changes with time. Initially, the paired posterior cardinal veins drain most of caudal part of the body. However, by the start of the fifth week a number of other veins form as the posterior cardinal veins regress.
The sacrocardinal veins are a pair of vessels which form caudally. The anastomosis between the two produces the left common iliac vein. The left sacrocardinal vein produces the veins immediately distal to the common iliac vein. The right sacrocardinal vein produces the sacrocardinal segment of the inferior vena cava - the part inferior to the renal part - and the right common iliac vein.
The subcardinal veins are a pair of vessels which appear medial to the posterior cardinal veins. The vessel joining the right and left subcardinal veins progresses to form the left renal vein. Extending from this vein is a tributary that remains the only remnant of the left subcardinal vein in the adult - the left gonadal vein. The right subcardinal vein develops into the renal segment of the inferior vena cava. It joins the sacrocardinal segment distally - derived from the sacrocardinal veins - and the hepatic segment proximally - derived from the vitelline veins. In keeping with its embryological origin, the right testicular vein originates from the renal part of the inferior vena cava.
The supracardinal veins assume the position of the posterior cardinal veins from the fifth week of gestation. Eventually, they drain the lumbar veins via the azygous and hemiazygous systems.
Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.