Central retinal vein
The central retinal vein (CRV) or central vein of the retina, and sometimes shortened to the retinal vein, is the venous counterpart of the central retinal artery.
Gross anatomy
Each quadrant of the retina is drained by multiple minor retinal veins which coalesce to form a main retinal vein. The confluence of the superotemporal and superonasal main retinal veins forms the superior papillary vein, whilst the confluence of the two inferior main retinal veins forms the inferior papillary vein. The superior and inferior papillary veins converge creating the central vein of the retina. This union of the papillary nerves sometimes occurs in the optic nerve itself .
The central retinal vein exits the ocular globe via the lamina cribrosa, and courses in the center of the optic nerve (II) alongside the central retinal artery .
Drainage
The central vein of the retina drains the retina and the optic nerve.
Related pathology
