Quick Facts
Origin: Union of vessels from pampiniform plexus in the broad ligament.
Course: Ascend to the abdomen to drain into the left renal vein (left ovarian vein) and inferior vena cava (right ovarian vein).
Tributaries: Pampiniform plexus and ureteric veins.
Drainage: Ovaries and lateral part of the uterine tubes.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The veins of the pampiniform plexus are located within the mesovarium of the broad ligament and the suspensory ligament of the ovary. These unite to form the left and right ovarian veins.
Course
The ovarian veins exit the lesser pelvis alongside the ovarian arteries, within the suspensory ligament of the ovary, and ascend into the abdomen. The veins travel lateral to the ureters, and eventually run across them in the abdomen, to run medial to them. The left ovarian vein drains into the horizontal left renal vein, whereas the right ovarian vein drains directly into the inferior vena cava.
Tributaries
The ovarian veins receive venous drainage from the pampiniform plexus and veins draining the abdominal ureter.
Structures Drained
The ovarian veins drain the ovaries, the lateral two thirds of the uterine tubes, and the ureter.
