Vorticose veins explained

Vorticose veins
Latin:venae vorticosae
Drainsto:Superior ophthalmic vein, and inferior ophthalmic vein
Artery:Short posterior ciliary arteries

The vorticose veins, referred to clinically as the vortex veins,[1] are veins that drain the choroid 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, and inferior ophthalmic vein.[2]

Vorticose veins are an important ophthalmoscopic landmark.[3]

Structure

Course and relations

Vorticose veins exit the eyeball 6 mm posterior to its equator.

Fate

Upper vortex veins empty into the superior ophthalmic vein, and lower vortex veins empty into the inferior ophthalmic vein.[4]

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.

Notes and References

  1. Kutoglu . Tunc . Yalcin . Bulent . Kocabiyik . Necdet . Ozan . Hasan . 2005 . Vortex veins: Anatomic investigations on human eyes . Clinical Anatomy . 18 . 4 . 269–273 . 10.1002/ca.20092 . 15832350 . 42756249.
  2. Book: Remington, Lee Ann . Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of the Visual System . Elsevier . 2012 . 978-1-4377-1926-0 . 202–217 . Orbital Blood Supply . 10.1016/b978-1-4377-1926-0.10011-6.
  3. Potter . J. W. . Vandervort . R. S. . Thallemer . J. M. . November 1984 . The clinical significance of the vortex veins . Journal of the American Optometric Association . 55 . 11 . 822–824 . 0003-0244 . 6512144.
  4. Book: Standring, Susan . Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice . 2020 . 978-0-7020-7707-4 . 42nd . New York . 780 . 1201341621.