Posterior fossa veins

Superior group

Anterior pontomesencephalic vein

Runs on the anterior paramedian surface of the pons. May connect to the peduncular vein, the basal vein or the posterior mesencephalic vein.

Lateral mesencephalic vein

Runs in the lateral mesencephalic sulcus and drains into the basal vein, the posterior mesencephalic vein or the petrosal vein.

Precentral vein

Forms from the confluence of brachial (named because they cross the brachium pontis and brachium conjunctivum) at the precentral cerebellar fissure between the lingula and central lobule. Drains into the vein of Galen.

Superior vermian vein

Single trunk or multiple tributaries. Courses over the culmen anteriorly and superiorly. Drains into the precentral vein or the vein of Galen.

Anterior petrosal group

Consists of multiple tributaries that join to form the petrosal vein. The petrosal vein is a short trunk that crosses the cerebellopontine angle in close relationship to the trigeminal nerve. It drains into the superior petrosal sinus above the internal auditory meatus.

Other veins belonging to this group are veins from the anterior cerebellum and veins from the lateral recesses of the 4th ventricle which receive tributaries from the flocculus and the cerebellar tonsils. Both groups drain into the petrosal vein.

Posterior tentorial group

The inferior vermian vein is the most consistent member of this group. It is a paired vein formed by superior and inferior tributaries behind the cerebellar tonsil. It runs posterosuperiorly in the inferior paramedian sulcus of the vermis and drains into the straight or transverse sinus.