The venous drainage of the duodenum is provided by veins that accompany the arteries and share their names. Overall, the venous drainage of the duodenum is provided by the portal venous system.

The venous drainage of the duodenum occurs via small duodenal veins that carry venous blood further to two superior pancreaticoduodenal veins and two inferior pancreaticoduodenal veins. The pancreaticoduodenal veins follow the corresponding arteries and either directly or indirectly drain into the main hepatic portal vein.

Each person has the following four pancreaticoduodenal veins:

Anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal vein - flows into the gastrocolic trunk or the right gastro-omental vein;
Anterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal vein - drains into the superior mesenteric vein or its first jejunal tributary;
Posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal vein - drains into the main hepatic portal vein;
Posterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal vein - drains into the superior mesenteric vein or its first jejunal tributary.

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Venous drainage