Quick Facts
Origin: Union of unnamed anterior and posterior tributaries, encircling the obturator foramen.
Course: Drains into the internal iliac vein or inferior epigastric vein.
Tributaries: Anterior, posterior, and pubic tributaries.
Drainage: Pelvic muscles and hip joint.
Origin
The obturator vein originates from the union of unnamed anterior and posterior tributaries that encircle the obturator foramen, between the obturator externus muscle and the obturator membrane.
Course
From its origin, the obturator vein runs in the medial compartment of the thigh and passes through the obturator canal to reach the pelvis. It travels inferior to and with the obturator artery and nerve. The obturator vein runs posteriorly and superiorly on the lateral pelvic wall and drains into the internal iliac vein or inferior epigastric vein.
Tributaries
The obturator vein receives anterior and posterior ramifications, which run in relation to the adductor brevis muscle. In the pelvis, the obturator vein will also receive a pubic branch. The pubic branch of the obturator vein will form a connection with its fellow from the opposite side.
Structures Drained
The obturator vein drains the pelvic muscles and the hip joint. The anterior tributary of the obturator vein drains the obturator and adductor muscles. The posterior tributary supplies the proximal portion of the hamstring muscles.
