Left gastro-omental vein

At a glance

English

Left gastro-omental vein

Latin (TA2)

Vena gastroomentalis sinistra

System

Vein

Region

Trunk

Side

Single, on the midline

About the left gastro-omental vein

The left gastro-omental vein, older name the left gastroepiploic vein, drains the left half of the stomach's greater curvature and the adjoining greater omentum. It is a tributary of the splenic vein and therefore part of the hepatic portal system, so its blood passes through the liver before reaching the heart.

It travels between the two layers of the greater omentum close to the stomach, a short distance from the greater curvature. Its tributaries come from both faces of the stomach, the anterosuperior and posteroinferior surfaces, as well as from the omentum hanging below. It runs in the opposite direction to the right gastro-omental vein, flowing from right to left, and the two veins are usually continuous with each other along the curvature, forming a venous arch.

Near the left end of the curvature it turns into the gastrosplenic ligament and passes towards the hilum of the spleen. It ends in the splenic vein, or in one of the splenic vein's large tributaries, close to where that vein begins at the spleen. The splenic vein then runs behind the pancreas and meets the superior mesenteric vein, where the hepatic portal vein begins. The left gastro-omental vein is the companion of the left gastro-omental artery, a branch of the splenic artery.

Its route through the gastrosplenic ligament means it must be tied when the spleen is removed or when the greater curvature is mobilised, for example in operations that reduce the size of the stomach. In portal hypertension, and especially when the splenic vein is blocked by a clot, blood may be diverted through the gastro-omental veins and short gastric veins, causing enlarged veins in the stomach wall.

Course and drainage

Begins at

Begins along the left part of the greater curvature from veins of both surfaces of the stomach and of the greater omentum, often continuous with the right gastro-omental vein.

Drains into

Passes through the gastrosplenic ligament to end in the splenic vein near its commencement at the hilum of the spleen.

Drains

Drains the left half of the stomach's greater curvature, along with the greater omentum, into the portal system.