Quick Facts
Origin: Arises from the lacrimal gland as one, and sometimes two, branches that join to form the lacrimal vein.
Course: Runs along the upper border of the lateral rectus muscle to reach the posterior orbit where it drains into the superior ophthalmic vein.
Tributaries: None.
Drainage: Lacrimal gland, upper eyelid, and conjunctiva.
Origin
The lacrimal vein arises in the lacrimal gland in the anterolateral part of the orbit. It arises from the gland as one, or sometimes two, branches that join to form the lacrimal vein.
Course
The lacrimal vein runs along the upper border of the lateral rectus muscle in close approximation with the lacrimal nerve and artery. As it extends to the posterior part of the orbit, the vein approaches the lateral border of the superior rectus muscle where it drains into the superior ophthalmic vein (Cheung and McNab, 2003).
Tributaries
There are no named tributaries.
Structures Drained
The lacrimal vein drains the lacrimal gland, upper eyelid, and conjunctiva.
References
Cheung, N. and McNab, A. A. (2003) 'Venous anatomy of the orbit', Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 44(3), pp. 988-95.
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