Deep cerebral veins

The deep system

Drains blood from the deep white matter, the deep grey substance structures (basal ganglia, thalamus, claustrum), the fornix, septum pellucidum and choroid plexuses centripetally into two main collecting channels:

1. The internal cerebral vein
2. The basal vein

Medullary veins

Originate in the deep white matter and course toward the lateral ventricle. They drain into the subependymal veins.

Subependymal veins

Drain:

• Medullary veins
• Basal ganglia and thalamus
• Septum pellucidum (septal vein)
• Fornix
• Corpus callosum

Prominent subependymal veins:

• Thalamostriate vein - Formed by the terminal vein that runs beneath the stria terminalis between the thalamus and the caudate and the caudate veins. Despite the name does not drain thalamus. Drains into the internal cerebral vein.
• Caudate veins
• Direct lateral vein
• Medial and lateral atrial veins

Veins of the basal ganglia, claustrum, internal capsule

The superior group of these veins drains via the superior striate veins into the subependymal veins.

The inferior part drains via the inferior striate veins into the deep middle cerebral vein which is a tributary of the basal vein.

Thalamic veins

Divided into:

• Superior group - drains into internal cerebral vein
• Inferior group - drains into the basal vein via the peduncular vein
• Anterior group - drains into the internal cerebral vein
• Posterior group - drains into the basal vein

Choroidal veins

The superior choroidal vein drains into the internal cerebral vein

The inferior choroidal vein drains into the basal vein

Internal cerebral vein

Paired vessel. Arises at the level of the foramen of Monro and courses near the midline. Runs in the tela choroidea on the roof of the third ventricle. Reaches the quadrigeminal cistern below the splenium where the two vessels unite and drain into the vein of Galen.

Receives:

• Subependymal veins

Basal vein (of Rosenthal)

Originates in the undersurface of the anterior perforated substance by the confluence of several supra- and infratentorial tributaries. It runs medially in the sylvian fissure where it receives the inferior striate veins. Courses around the cerebral peduncle and runs along the posterior side of the thalamus to join the vein of Galen or the internal cerebral vein. Rarely it can drain directly into the transverse sinus.

Receives:

• Deep middle cerebral vein
• Tributaries from the insula
• Inferior striate veins
• Olfactory vein
• Frontoorbital vein
• Anterior cerebral vein (receives blood from rostrum and genu of corpus callosum from the anterior pericallosal vein and the vein of the lamina terminalis)
• Inferior thalamic veins
• Peduncular veins
• Inferior ventricular and atrial veins
• Lateral mesencephalic vein
• Tributaries draining the inferomedial temporal lobe and anteromedial occipital lobe
• Posterior pericallosal vein (occasionally)

Vein of Galen

Short venous trunk which is formed by the fusion of the two internal cerebral veins and the basal veins of Rosenthal. Runs around the splenium of corpus callosum in the quadrigeminal cistern. Drains into the confluence between the inferior sagittal sinus and the straight sinus.

Receives:

• Callosal veins
• Precentral cerebellar vein
• Superior cerebellar veins
• Inferior cerebellar veins