Cranial pancreaticoduodenal vein

The cranial pancreaticoduodenal vein originates drains blood from the proximal duodenum—especially the cranial duodenal flexure and descending duodenum—as well as the right lobe of the pancreas. The vein courses in close apposition to its arterial counterpart, forming part of the vascular arch around the pancreatic-duodenal junction.

The cranial pancreaticoduodenal vein runs dorsally and to the left, converges towards the portal vein. It may join the portal vein directly or empty into the gastroduodenal vein or right gastric vein, depending on the species and individual variation.