Vena comitans

Vena comitans
The deep veins of the upper limb. (Venae comites labeled at upper right.)
Identifiers
TA	A12.0.00.031
FMA	76841
*Anatomical terminology* [edit on Wikidata]

Vena comitans is Latin for accompanying vein. It refers to a vein that is usually paired, with both veins lying on the sides of an artery. They are found in close proximity to arteries so that the pulsations of the artery aid venous return. Because they are generally found in pairs, they are often referred to by their plural form: venae comitantes.

Venae comitantes are usually found with certain smaller arteries, especially those in the extremities. Larger arteries, on the other hand, generally do not have venae comitantes. They usually have a single, similarly sized vein which is not as intimately associated with the artery.

Examples of arteries and their venae comitantes:

Examples of arteries that do not have venae comitantes (i.e. those that have "regular" veins):

Axillary artery and the axillary vein
Subclavian artery and the subclavian vein

External links

Arteries and veins

Vessels

Arteries	Nutrient artery Arteriole Metarteriole

Capillaries	Types Continuous Fenestrated Sinusoidal Precapillary sphincter Precapillary resistance

Veins	Vena comitans Superficial vein Deep vein Emissary veins Venous plexus Venule

Lymph	Lymphatic vessel Lymph Lymph capillary

Circulation

Systemic	Left heart → Aorta → Arteries → Arterioles → Capillaries → Venules → Veins → Vena cava → (Right heart)

Pulmonary	Right heart → Pulmonary arteries → Lungs → Pulmonary vein → Left heart

Microanatomy

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