title: Venous drainage of the spine and spinal cord: a comprehensive review of its history, embryology, anatomy, physiology, and pathology.
abstract: Venous drainage of the spine and spinal cord is accomplished through a complex network of venous structures compartmentalized to intrinsic, extrinsic, and extradural systems. As the literature on this topic is scarce, the following review was performed to summarize the available literature into a single coherent format. The medical literature on the spinal venous system was reviewed using online sources as well as historical documents that were not available online in regard to history, embryology, anatomy, and physiology with a particular emphasis on the pathology affecting this system. The spinal venous system is complex and variable. Proper understanding of all aspects is critical for the management of the pathology that results from its failure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Christoph J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Griessenauer
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raborn
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Foreman
authors.forename: Mohammadali M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shoja
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loukas
authors.forename: R Shane
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tubbs
mesh_terms: D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011859:Radiography; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D013131:Spine / Q000098:blood supply*; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology
keywords: spinal cord; spine; venous