Superior gluteal veins

At a glance

English

Superior gluteal veins

Latin (TA2)

Venae gluteae superiores

System

Vein

Region

Trunk

Side

Paired, left and right

About the superior gluteal veins

The superior gluteal veins drain the upper and deeper part of the buttock. They are the companion veins of the superior gluteal artery, usually two or more vessels lying around it, and they collect blood from the same muscles the artery supplies: gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus and tensor fasciae latae, together with the overlying skin and the outer surface of the ilium.

Their tributaries match the branches of the artery. A superficial set comes from the deep surface of gluteus maximus, and a deep set runs between gluteus medius and gluteus minimus, with upper and lower divisions following the curved lines on the outer surface of the ilium. These join to form the main veins, which gather beneath gluteus maximus at the upper border of piriformis.

From there they reach the pelvis by way of the greater sciatic foramen, above piriformis, together with the superior gluteal artery and nerve. Within the pelvis they often merge into a single trunk, which ends in the internal iliac vein, of which they are the largest tributaries. The superior gluteal veins connect with the inferior gluteal veins and with the circumflex femoral veins around the hip, forming part of the link between the femoral and pelvic venous systems.

These links let the gluteal veins act as a bypass if the iliac or femoral veins are blocked. Where the vessels emerge above piriformis they are short and thick, and if they are torn in pelvic fractures or during operations on the back of the hip or sacroiliac joint, they can retract into the pelvis and bleed heavily, which is hard to control from the buttock. Surgeons and those giving injections into the buttock keep to the upper outer quadrant partly to avoid these vessels and the sciatic nerve.

Course and drainage

Begins at

Formed in the buttock from superficial and deep tributaries corresponding to the branches of the superior gluteal artery.

Drains into

Pass above piriformis, through the greater sciatic foramen, into the pelvis and, often after uniting, end in the internal iliac vein.

Drains

Drain the gluteus maximus, medius and minimus, tensor fasciae latae, the outer ilium and the skin of the upper buttock.