Intracranial Venous System Overview

Vein of Labbé

Common facial veins

Superficial middle cerebral vein

Internal cerebral veins (paired)

Superior sagittal sinus Superficial cortical veins

Internal jugular vein

Sigmoid sinus

Sinus confluence (torcular Herophili)

Straight sinus

Vein of Galen

Superior sagittal sinus

Internal cerebral veins

Vein of Labbé

Vein of Galen

Straight sinus

Suboccipital venous plexus

Transverse sinus

Sinus confluence (torcular Herophili)

Vein of Labbé

Scalp veins

Transverse sinus

Jugular bulb

Vein of Labbé

Superior sagittal sinus

Vein of Labbé

Sigmoid sinus

Suboccipital venous plexus

(Top) Lateral view from an MRV demonstrates cerebral venous drainage. Dural venous sinuses and superficial cortical veins are well

depicted on this lateral view. (Middle) Oblique view of the MRV shows dural sinuses draining posteroinferiorly to torcular Herophili,

which splits into 2 nearly symmetric transverse sinuses. (Bottom) AP view shows superimposed superior sagittal and straight sinuses,

which demonstrates slight but normal asymmetry of transverse sinuses. Larger (left) and smaller (right) veins of Labbé are seen here as

they drain into the transverse sinus. The vein of Labbé can be quite large and drain a significant territory over the inferolateral cerebral

hemisphere. If the transverse sinus becomes occluded, the vein of Labbé may also thrombose and cause a large venous infarct.

LAT, OBL, & AP MRV

Brain: Pathology-Based Diagnoses: Malformations,

Trauma, and Stroke

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