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vein

A vein is a blood vessel. If you've ever donated blood, you know that having a needle put in your vein by a health care worker is not nearly as scary as it sounds.

Although it mainly describes part of the body's circulatory system, vein can also refer to a pattern that looks like a vein in your body. For example, you can describe the streaks of color that run through blue cheese as veins of greenish-blue. Similarly, a theme or idea that continues appearing throughout a book could be called a vein. The trickiest thing about the word vein is trying not to confuse it with its homophones — vane (as in weather vane) and vain (as in conceited).

DEFINITIONS OF: vein

n a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart

“all veins except the pulmonary vein carry unaerated blood”

Synonyms:: vena, venous blood vessel

Types:: show 189 types...; hide 189 types...; accessory cephalic vein, vena cephalica accessoria
a vein that passes along the radial edge of the forearm and joins the cephalic vein near the elbow; accessory hemiazygos vein, accessory hemiazygous vein, vena hemiazygos accessoria
a vein formed by the union of the 4th to 7th posterior intercostal veins; empties into the azygos vein; accessory vertebral vein, vena vertebralis accessoria
a vein that accompanies the vertebral vein but passes through the foramen of the transverse process of the 7th cervical vertebra and empties into the brachiocephalic vein; accompanying vein, vena comitans
a vein accompanying another structure; a vein may accompany an artery in such a way that the arterial pulses aid venous return; anastomotic vein, vena anastomotica
either of two communicating veins serving the brain; angular vein, vena angularis
a short vein formed by the supraorbital vein and the supratrochlear vein and continuing as the facial vein; anterior vertebral vein, vena vertebralis anterior
a vein that accompanies the ascending cervical artery and opens into the vertebral vein; appendicular vein, vena appendicularis
a vein that accompanies the appendicular artery and empties into the ileocolic vein; arcuate vein of the kidney, vena arcuata renis
veins that receive blood from interlobular veins of kidney and rectal venules; auricular vein, vena auricularis
one of two veins serving the ear region; axillary vein, vena axillaris
a continuation of the basilic vein and brachial vein that becomes the subclavian vein; azygos vein, azygous vein, vena azygos
one of a system of veins that drain the thoracic and abdominal walls; arises as a continuation of the right ascending lumbar vein and terminates in the superior vena cava; basal vein, vena basalis
a large vein passing along the medial surface of the temporal lobe and emptying into the great cerebral vein; basilic vein, vena basilica
a vein that drains the back of the hand and forearm and empties into the axillary vein; basivertebral vein, vena basivertebralis
one of a number of veins draining the spongy substance of the vertebrae and emptying into the anterior internal vertebral venous plexus; brachial vein, vena brachialis
two veins in either arm that accompany the brachial artery and empty into the axillary vein; brachiocephalic vein, innominate vein, vena brachiocephalica
veins formed by the union of the internal jugular and subclavian veins; bronchial vein, vena bronchialis
veins serving the bronchi; empty into the azygos vein; cardinal vein
any of the major venous channels in primitive adult vertebrates and in embryos of higher vertebrates; central veins of liver, venae centrales hepatis
terminal branches of the hepatic veins that lie in the hepatic lobules and receive blood from the liver sinusoids; central vein of retina, vena centrales retinae
vein formed by the union of the retinal veins; accompanies central arteries of the retina in the optic nerve; central vein of suprarenal gland, vena centralis glandulae suprarenalis
a single draining vein; on the right it empties into the inferior vena cava; on the left it empties into the left renal vein; cephalic vein, vena cephalica
a large vein of the arm that empties into the axillary vein; cerebellar vein, vena cerebellum
the veins draining the cerebellum; cerebral vein, vena cerebri
any of several veins serving the cerebral hemispheres of the brain; cervical vein, deep cervical vein, vena cervicalis profunda
a vein that accompanies an artery of the same name; choroid vein, vena choroidea
either of two veins serving the choroid coat of the eye; ciliary veins, venae ciliares
small veins coming from the ciliary body; circumflex vein, vena circumflexa
any of several curved parallel veins accompanying arteries of the same name; clitoral vein, vena clitoridis
veins that serve the clitoris; colic vein, vena colica
vein serving the large intestine; common facial vein
vein formed by union of facial vein and the retromandibular vein and emptying into the jugular vein; conjunctival veins, venae conjunctivales
veins draining the conjunctiva; costoaxillary vein
one of several veins connecting intercostal veins with the lateral thoracic vein or the thoracoepigastric vein; cutaneous vein, vena cutanea
one of a number of veins in the subcutaneous tissue that empty into deep veins; cystic vein, vena cystica
vein that drains the gallbladder; digital vein, vena digitalis
one of the veins serving the fingers or toes; diploic vein, vena diploica
one of the veins serving the spongy part of the cranial bones; dorsal scapular vein, vena scapularis dorsalis
vein that is a tributary of the subclavian vein or external jugular vein and accompanies the descending scapular artery; emissary vein, vena emissaria
one of several connecting veins in the scalp and head that drain blood from sinuses in the dura mater to veins outside the skull; epigastric vein
veins serving the anterior walls of the abdomen; esophageal veins, oesophageal veins, venae esophageae
small veins from the esophagus emptying into the brachiocephalic vein or the azygos veins; ethmoidal vein, vena ethmoidalis
veins that drain the ethmoidal sinuses and empty into the superior ophthalmic vein; external nasal vein, vena nasalis externa
one of the veins that drain the external nose and empty into the angular or facial vein; facial vein, vena facialis
any of several veins draining the face; femoral vein, vena femoralis
a vein that accompanies the femoral artery in the same sheath; a continuation of the popliteal vein; becomes the external iliac vein; gastric vein, vena gastrica
one of several veins draining the stomach walls; gastroepiploic vein, gastroomental vein, vena gastroomentalis
one of two veins serving the great curvature of the stomach; genicular vein, vena genus
veins that drain blood from structures around the knee; empty into the popliteal vein; gluteal vein, vena gluteus
veins draining the gluteal muscles on either side of the body; hemizygos vein, hemizygous vein, vena hemizygos
a continuation of the left ascending lumbar vein; crosses the midline at the 8th vertebra and empties into the azygos vein; hemorrhoidal vein, rectal vein, vena rectalis
any of several veins draining the walls of the anal canal and rectum; hepatic vein, vena hepatica
a vein that drains the liver; empties into the vena cava; ileocolic vein, vena ileocolica
a vein that drains the end of the ileum and the appendix and the cecum and the lower part of the ascending colon; iliac vein, vena iliaca
one of three veins draining the pelvic area; iliolumbar vein, vena iliolumbalis
a branch of the internal iliac vein; intercapitular vein, vena intercapitalis
veins connecting the dorsal and palmar veins of the hand or the dorsal and plantar veins of the foot; intercostal vein, vena intercostalis
several veins draining the intercostal spaces of the rib cage; intervertebral vein, vena intervertebralis
one of several veins accompanying spinal nerves; jugular, jugular vein, vena jugularis
veins in the neck that return blood from the head; labial vein, vena labialis
a vein draining the lips of the mouth; labial vein, vena labialis
veins draining the lips of the vulva; internal auditory vein, labyrinthine vein
veins that drain the inner ear; lacrimal vein, vena lacrimalis
drains the lacrimal gland; empties into the superior ophthalmic vein; laryngeal vein, vena laryngea
one of two veins draining the larynx; lingual vein, vena lingualis
a vein that receives blood from the tongue and the floor of the mouth and empties into the internal jugular or the facial vein; lumbar vein, vena lumbalis
veins that drain the posterior body wall and the lumbar vertebral venous plexuses; maxillary vein, vena maxillaris
posterior continuation of the pterygoid plexus; joins the superficial temporal vein to form the retromandibular vein; meningeal veins, venae meningeae
veins at accompany the meningeal arteries; mesenteric vein, vena mesenterica
a tributary of the portal vein passing from the intestine between the two layers of mesentery; metacarpal vein, vena metacarpus
dorsal and palmar veins of the hand; metatarsal vein, vena metatarsus
dorsal and plantar branches of veins serving the metatarsal region of the foot; musculophrenic vein, vena musculophrenica
veins that drain the upper abdominal wall and the lower intercostal spaces and the abdomen; nasofrontal vein, vena nasofrontalis
a vein located in the anterior medial part of the orbit; connects the superior ophthalmic with the angular vein; oblique vein of the left atrium, vena obliqua atrii sinistri
a tributary of the coronary sinus; on the posterior wall of the left atrium; obturator vein, vena obturatoria
a vein formed by the union of tributaries that drain the hip joints and thigh muscles; empties into the internal iliac vein; occipital vein, vena occipitalis
a vein that drains the occipital region; ophthalmic vein, vena ophthalmica
either of two veins that serve the eye; empties into the cavernous sinus; ovarian vein, vena ovarica
one of the veins that drain the ovaries; the right opens into the inferior vena cava; the left opens into the left renal vein; palatine vein, vena palatina
a vein that drains the region of the palate and empties into the facial vein; pancreatic vein, venae pancreatica
veins draining the pancreas and emptying into the superior mesenteric and splenic veins; paraumbilical vein, vena paraumbilicalis
small veins arising in skin around the navel; terminate as accessory portal veins; parotid vein
parotid branches of the facial vein; they drain part of the parotid gland and empty into the retromandibular vein; pectoral vein, vena pectoralis
veins that drain the pectoral muscles and empty into the subclavian vein; perforating vein, vena perforantis
veins that accompany the perforating arteries; drain leg muscles; empty into the deep femoral vein; pericardial vein, vena pericardiaca
several small veins from the pericardium; fibular vein, peroneal vein, vena peroneus
accompany the peroneal arteries; arising in the heel and running up the back of the leg to join the posterior tibial veins of the popliteal vein; pharyngeal vein, vena pharyngeus
veins from the pharyngeal plexus that empty into the internal jugular vein; phrenic vein, vena phrenica
either of two veins that drain the diaphragm; popliteal vein, vena poplitea
a vein arising in the knee and ascending to become the femoral vein; hepatic portal vein, portal, portal vein, vena portae
a short vein that carries blood into the liver; posterior vein of the left ventricle, vena posterior ventriculi sinistri
arises near the apex of the heart and empties into the coronary sinus; prepyloric vein, vena pylorica
a tributary of the right gastric vein; pudendal vein, venae pudendum
vein of the pudendum; pulmonary vein, vena pulmonalis
any of four veins that carry arterial blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart; radial vein, vena radialis
superficial veins ascending the radial side of the forearm; combines with the ulnar veins to form the brachial vein; renal vein, vena renalis
veins that accompany renal arteries; open into the vena cava at the level of the 2nd lumbar vertebra; sacral vein, vena sacralis
vein of the sacral region; saphenous vein, vena saphena
either of two chief superficial veins of the leg that drain blood from the foot; scleral veins, venae sclerales
tributaries of the anterior ciliary veins that drain the sclera of the eye; scrotal vein, vena scrotalis
veins passing from the scrotum to the pudendal veins; sigmoid vein, vena sigmoideus
tributaries of the inferior mesenteric vein; drains the sigmoid colon; spinal vein, vena spinalis
veins that drain the spinal cord; splenic vein, vena lienalis
a vein formed by several small veins on the surface of the spleen; joins the superior mesenteric to form the portal vein; sternocleidomastoid vein, vena sternocleidomastoidea
drains the sternocleidomastoid muscle; empties into the internal jugular vein; stylomastoid vein, vena stylomastoidea
a vein that drains the tympanic cavity and empties into the retromandibular vein; subclavian vein, vena subclavia
a continuation of the axillary vein; joins the internal jugular to form the brachiocephalic vein; sublingual vein, vena sublingualis
a tributary of the lingual vein; supraorbital vein, vena supraorbitalis
drains the front of the scalp; unites with the supratrochlear vein to form the angular vein; supratrochlear vein, vena supratrochlearis
drains the front of the scalp; unites with the supraorbital vein to form the angular vein; temporal vein, vena temporalis
any of several veins draining the temporal region; testicular vein, vena testicularis
a vein from the testicles; thalamostriate vein
a vein serving the thalamus and corpus striatum; thoracoepigastric vein, vena thoracoepigastrica
a vein arising from the region of the superficial epigastric vein and opening into the axillary vein or thoracic vein; thoracic vein, vena thoracica
veins that drain the thoracic walls; thyroid vein, vena thyroidea
any of several small veins draining blood from the thyroid area; tibial vein, vena tibialis
veins of the lower leg; empty into the popliteal vein; tracheal vein, vena trachealis
several small veins from the trachea; tympanic vein
veins from the tympanic cavity that empty into the retromandibular vein; ulnar vein, vena ulnaris
any of several veins of the forearm; umbilical vein, vena umbilicalis
a vein in the umbilical cord; returns nutrient blood from the placenta to the fetus; uterine vein
one of two veins on each side that arise from the uterine plexus and empty into the internal iliac vein; varicose vein
a vein that is permanently dilated; most common in the legs; vena bulbi penis
vein of the head of the penis; tributary of the internal pudendal vein that drains the perineum; vena canaliculi cochleae
vein of the cochlear canal; vein of penis
a vein serving the penis; vena bulbi vestibuli
vein of the vestibular bulb; vena cava
either of two large veins that return oxygen-depleted blood to the right atrium of the heart; venae palpebrales
veins of the eyelids; venae interlobulares hepatis
interlobular veins of the liver; venae renis
veins of the kidney; drain the kidney into the renal vein; vena vertebralis, vertebral vein
a vein that goes through the foramina of the cervical vertebrae and forms a plexus around the vertebral artery; empties into the brachiocephalic vein; vena vesicalis, vesical vein
veins that drain the vesical plexus and join the internal iliac veins; vena vestibularis, vestibular vein
veins that drain the saccule and utricle; vena vorticosum, vortex vein, vorticose vein
a vein formed by branches from the back surface of the eye and the ciliary body; empties into the ophthalmic veins; capillary vein, venula, venule
a minute vein continuous with a capillary; anterior cardinal vein
a major drainage channel from the cephalic part of the body; posterior cardinal vein
a major drainage channel from the caudal part of the body; common cardinal vein
the major return channels to the heart; formed by anastomosis of the anterior and posterior cardinal veins; anterior cerebral vein, vena cerebri anterior
accompanies the anterior cerebral artery and empties into the basal vein; anterior facial vein, vena facialis anterior
a continuation of the angular vein; unites with the retromandibular vein before emptying into the internal jugular vein; great cerebral vein, vena cerebri magna
a cerebral vein formed by the two internal cerebral veins and continuing into the sinus rectus; inferior cerebral vein, venae cerebrum inferior
veins that drain the undersurface of the cerebral hemispheres and empty into the cavernous and transverse sinuses; internal cerebral vein, vena cerebrum internus
two paired veins passing caudally near the midline and uniting to form the great cerebral vein; middle cerebral vein, vena cerebri media
either of two cerebral veins; superior cerebral vein, vena cerebrum superior
a cerebral vein that drains the dorsal convexity of the cerebral hemisphere and empties into the cavernous sinus; circumflex iliac vein, vena circumflexa ilium
accompanies the artery of the same name; circumflex femoral vein, vena circumflexus femoris
either of two veins that accompany arteries of the same name serving the hip and thigh; inferior epigastric vein, vena epigastrica inferior
empties into the external iliac vein; superficial epigastric vein, vena epigastrica superficialis
empties into the great saphenous vein; superior epigastric veins, venae epigastricae superiores
veins that accompany the superior epigastric artery; episcleral veins, venae episclerales
small veins in the sclera near the corneal margin; empty into the anterior ciliary veins; hypogastric vein, internal iliac vein
a vein that unites with the external iliac vein to form the common iliac vein; external iliac vein
a continuation of the femoral vein; unites with the internal iliac vein to form the common iliac vein; common iliac vein
formed by the internal and external iliac veins; unites with its fellow from the opposite side of the body to form the inferior vena cava; anterior jugular vein
arises below the chin from veins draining the lower face; joins the external jugular vein; external jugular vein
formed by the junction of the posterior auricular and the retromandibular veins; empties into the subclavian vein; internal jugular vein
a continuation of the sigmoid sinus of the dura mater; joins the subclavian vein to form the brachiocephalic vein; inferior labial vein, vena labialis inferior
a tributary of the facial vein that drains the lower lip; superior labial vein, vena labialis superior
a tributary of the facial vein that drains the upper lip; left gastric vein, vena gastrica sinistra
arises from a union of veins from the gastric cardia; runs in the lesser omentum; empties into the portal vein; inferior ophthalmic vein
a vein that drains a venous network in the floor and medial wall of the eye socket; superior ophthalmic vein
a vein that begins at the inner angle of the eye socket and passes through the superior orbital fissure to empty into the cavernous sinus; inferior pulmonary vein, vena pulmanalis inferior
either of two pulmonary veins (left and right) returning blood from the inferior lobes of the lungs; superior pulmonary vein, vena pulmonalis superior
either of two pulmonary veins (left and right) returning blood from the superior lobes of the lungs; pyloric vein, right gastric vein, vena gastrica-dextra
receives veins from the upper surfaces of the stomach and empties into the portal vein; posterior facial vein, retromandibular vein, vena retromandibularis
posterior branch of the facial vein; formed by temporal veins in front of the ear; great saphenous vein, long saphenous vein
the longest vein in the body; runs from foot to the groin where it joins the femoral vein; short saphenous vein
a vein running from the foot up the back of the leg to the knee; stellate venule
a star-shaped group of venules in the renal cortex; deep temporal vein
temporal veins that empty into the pterygoid plexus; middle temporal vein
arises near the eye; joins the superficial temporal veins to form the retromandibular vein; superficial temporal vein
join the middle temporal vein to empty into the retromandibular vein; superior thalamostriate vein
a long vein that helps to form the internal cerebral vein; inferior thalamostriate vein, striate vein
tributaries to the basal vein; inferior thyroid vein
any of several veins on each side that drain the thyroid gland and empty into the innominate vein; middle thyroid vein
a vein on each side that drains the lateral part of the thyroid and empties into the internal jugular vein; superior thyroid vein
a vein on each side that drains the upper part of the thyroid and empties into the internal jugular vein; venae dorsales penis superficiales
superficial dorsal veins of the penis; paired tributaries of the external pudendal veins on each side; venae dorsales penis profunda
deep dorsal vein of the penis; tributary of the prostatic plexus; vena profunda penis
deep vein of the penis; enters the prostatic plexus; inferior vena cava, postcava
receives blood from lower limbs and abdominal organs and empties into the posterior part of the right atrium of the heart; formed from the union of the two iliac veins; precava, superior vena cava
receives blood from the head and arms and chest and empties into the right atrium of the heart; formed from the azygos and both brachiocephalic veins; venae profundae clitoridis
deep veins of the clitoris; join the vesical plexus; vena dorsalis clitoridis profunda
deep dorsal vein of the clitoris; tributary of the vesical venous plexus; venae dorsales clitoridis superficiales
superficial dorsal veins of the clitoris; tributaries of the external pudendal vein on either side; venae interlobulares renis
interlobular veins of the kidney; receive blood from the arcuate vein and empty into the renal veins; anterior labial veins, venae labiales anteriores
veins from the labia majora to the external pudendal vein; posterior labial veins, venae labiales posteriores
veins that pass posterior from the labia majora to the internal pudendal vein

Type of:: blood vessel
a vessel in which blood circulates

n any of the vascular bundles or ribs that form the branching framework of conducting and supporting tissues in a leaf or other plant organ

Synonyms:: nervure

Types:: midrib, midvein
the vein in the center of a leaf

Type of:: fibrovascular bundle, vascular bundle, vascular strand
a unit strand of the vascular system in stems and leaves of higher plants consisting essentially of xylem and phloem

n a layer of ore between layers of rock

Synonyms:: mineral vein

Types:: bonanza
an especially rich vein of precious ore

Type of:: formation, geological formation
(geology) the geological features of the earth

n one of the horny ribs that stiffen and support the wing of an insect

Synonyms:: nervure

Type of:: rib
a riblike supporting or strengthening part of an animal or plant

n a distinctive style or manner

“he continued in this vein for several minutes”

Type of:: expressive style, style
a way of expressing something (in language or art or music etc.) that is characteristic of a particular person or group of people or period

v make a veinlike pattern

Type of:: stain
color with a liquid dye or tint

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