Veins of the Abdomen Blood from the abdominal walls and abdominal (and pelvic) organs returns to the heart via the inferior vena cava. Blood from the digestive organs empties into veins that drain into the hepatic portal vein. This common vessel carries the venous blood into the liver. The hepatic veins then carry the blood from the liver to the vena cava. This hepatic portal system includes two sets of capillary beds located between the arterial supply and the ultimate venous drainage. Capillary beds in the stomach and intestines empty into tributaries of the hepatic portal vein, which carries the blood to the capillary bed in the liver. The hepatic portal system also includes a variety of tributary vessels from the stomach and pancreas, including the superior and inferior mesenteric veins and the splenic vein. The superior mesenteric vein collects blood from all of the small intestine, the ascending and transverse colons of the large intestine, and the stomach. The splenic vein drains the spleen and portions of the pancreas and stomach. This vein unites with the superior mesenteric vein to create the hepatic portal vein. Blood from the distal parts of the large intestine and rectum drains into the inferior mesenteric vein, which unites with the splenic vein immediately prior to its merger with the superior mesenteric vein to form the hepatic portal vein. Major Veins of the Abdomen Vein Area Drained Description Inferior vena Abdomen, lower limbs, Formed by the merger of the two common iliac veins cava pelvis External iliac Abdominal wall, lower Companions of the internal iliac arteries; Continuations of the veins limbs, cremaster muscle in femoral veins; End by merging with the internal iliac veins to males form the common iliac veins Lumbar Posterior abdominal wall Usually four lumbar veins on each side; Some drain directly veins (both sides), vertebral into the inferior vena cava and others into the ascending canal, spinal cord, lumbar veins of the thoracic azygos system meninges Gonadal Testes in males; ovaries in Gonadal veins are called testicular veins in males veins females andovarian veins in females; Left testicular and left ovarian veins drain into the left renal veins; Right testicular and right ovarian veins empty into the inferior vena cava Renal veins Kidneys The right renal vein is shorter than the left; The left renal vein collects blood from the left ovarian/testicular, left inferior phrenic, and left suprarenal veins; The right renal vein drains into the inferior vena cava Suprarenal Adrenal glands The left suprarenal vein drains into the left renal vein; The veins right suprarenal vein drains into the inferior vena cava Inferior Diaphragm Typically, the left inferior phrenic vein has tributaries to the phrenic left suprarenal vein (which drains into the left renal vein) and veins to the inferior vena cava; The right inferior phrenic vein drains into the inferior vena cava Hepatic Liver Right and left hepatic veins empty into the inferior vena cava veins .