Left gastric vein
Vena gastrica sinistra
- Synonym: Coronary vein with right gastric vein
Definition
The left gastric vein derives tributaries from both surfaces of the stomach; it runs from right to left along the lesser curvature of the stomach, between the two layers of the lesser omentum, to the esophageal opening of the stomach, where it receives some esophageal veins. It then turns backward and passes from left to right behind the omental bursa and ends in the portal vein.
The termination of the LGV can vary: it may drain into the portal vein (46-65% of cases), the splenic vein (30-33% of cases). The left gastric vein runs anterior or posterior to the common hepatic artery or splenic artery, which can influence its drainage pattern.
In ancient nomenclature, the right gastric vein forms the coronary vein with the right gastric vein.
References
This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).
