Superficial cerebral veins

Superior group

The veins of this group have an ascending course and drain in the superior sagittal sinus (SSS).

Drain:

• Lateral surface of the frontal, parietal and occipital lobes
• Part of the medial surface of the hemispheres
• Anterior part of the orbital surface of the frontal lobe

Superior anastomotic vein (of Trolard)

Connects SSS with the superficial middle cerebral vein. Its size is inversely related to the sizes of the superficial middle cerebral vein and anastomotic vein of Labbé.

Anteroinferior group

Superficial middle cerebral vein (Sylvian vein)

Runs along the Sylvian fissure posteroanteriorly. May be single, multiple or absent. Drainage is variant.

Suzuki classification of venous drainage patterns:

1. Sphenoparietal (54%) - into the sphenoparietal sinus
2. Emissary (12%) - via sphenoidal emissary veins into pterygoid plexus
3. Cavernous (7%) - direct drainage into cavernous sinus
4. Superior petrosal (54%) - into the superior petrosal sinus
5. Basal (2%) - via the lateral tentorial or superior petrosal sinus into the transverse sinus
6. Squamosal (2%) - into lateral tentorial sinus or directly into transverse sinus
7. Undeveloped (9%) - absent. Veins drain directly into superior sagital or transverse sinus

Drains:

• Lateral inferior surface of the frontal and parietal lobes
• Lateral superior surface of the temporal lobe

Inferior anastomotic vein (of Labbé)

The largest venous channel that crosses the temporal lobe between the Sylvian fissure and the transverse sinus. Connects the superficial middle cerebral vein to the transverse sinus. Its presence and location are variable.

Drains:

• Medial, anteroinferior, and posteroinferior temporal lobe

Posteroinferior group (tentorial group)

Veins from this group converge and drain into the lateral tentorial sinus. Occasionally they drain into the vein of Labbé or directly into the transverse sinus.

Drains:

• Lateral inferior and basal surface of temporal and occipital lobes

Veins of the medial surface

Veins from the medial frontoparietal surface

Run upward, connect with veins of the lateral surface of the hemisphere and drain into the superior sagittal sinus.

Drain:

• Superior part of the medial surface of frontal and parietal lobes

Anterior pericallosal vein

Courses around the genu of the corpus callosum and reaches the anterior cerebral vein. Sometimes drains into the inferior sagittal sinus.

Drains:

• Anterior part of cingular gyrus
• Anterior part of corpus callosum
• Anterior inferomedial frontoparietal areas

Posterior pericallosal vein (splenial vein)

Runs in the pericallosal cistern around the splenium and drains into the vein of Galen and sometimes the basal or internal cerebral vein.

Drains:

• Posterior part of cingular gyrus
• Posterior part of corpus callosum
• Posterior inferomedial frontoparietal areas
• Medial surface of occipital lobe via anterior calcarine vein

Anterior calcarine vein (internal occipital vein)

Drains into the posterior pericallosal vein and sometimes into the basal vein.

Drains:

• Medial surface of the occipital lobe