Quick Facts
Origin: Along the length of the posterolateral spinal cord.
Course: Longitudinally along the length of the spinal cord.
Tributaries: Pial venous plexus and central veins.
Drainage: Pial and central gray matter of spinal cord.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The posterior spinal veins are longitudinal veins that arise along the length of the spinal cord. One vein is located behind the posterior median septum, and is called the posterior central vein, while two veins are located more laterally, lying posterior to the posterior roots of the spinal cord.
Course
The posterior spinal veins course along the length of the spinal cord. The posterior segmental medullary veins connect the posterior spinal veins to the intervertebral veins through which they drain. Cranially, the spinal veins pass through the foramen magnum of the skull to communicate with veins draining the medulla oblongata and the inferior surface of the cerebellum.
Tributaries
The posterior spinal veins receive central (posterior sulcal) veins and small venules from the pial plexus (sometimes called the coronal plexus).
Structures Drained
The posterior spinal veins drain the posterior spinal cord.
