common iliac vein
The common iliac vein, corresponding with the common iliac artery, drains venous blood from the pelvis, lower limbs and their associated structures.
Summary
- location: pelvis, anterior to the sacroiliac joint
- origin and termination: union of internal and external iliac veins; into the inferior vena cava
- tributaries: iliolumbar and lateral sacral veins
- relations: common iliac arteries, lumbosacral plexus, psoas major muscle and vertebral column
Gross anatomy
Origin
It originates anterior to the sacroiliac joint, from the union of the internal and external iliac veins.
Course and termination
It courses superiorly and obliquely to unite with the contralateral vein, forming the inferior vena cava at the level of the L5 vertebral body.
Tributaries
Bilaterally, the veins receive the iliolumbar and lateral sacral veins which drain the iliopsoas muscle, L4 and L5 vertebrae and the obturator vein from the medial compartment of the thigh. The left common iliac vein additionally receives the median sacral vein.
Relations
Left common iliac vein
- anteriorly: attachment of the sigmoid mesocolon, superior rectal vessels
- laterally: common iliac artery (later anteriorly, further up its course)
Right common iliac vein
- anteriorly: common iliac artery (later medially, further up its course)
- posteriorly: right obturator nerve
Variant anatomy
- the left common iliac vein occasionally receives the left renal vein
Related pathology
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