splenic vein

Introduction

Arises from several small veins at the hilum on the anterior surface of the spleen, traveling with the short gastric & left gastroepiploic veins. The splenic vein then passes backward, through the splenorenal ligament to the left kidney, then runs behind the upper border of the pancreas to the neck of the pancreas where it joins the superior mesenteric vein to form the portal vein.

More general terms

• vein

Additional terms

• portal vein
• superior mesenteric vein