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

The venous drainage of the head and the uncinate process of the pancreas occurs via the pancreaticoduodenal veins, which follow the corresponding arteries and either directly or indirectly drain into the hepatic portal vein.

Each person has the following four pancreaticoduodenal veins:

Anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal vein - flows into the gastrocolic trunk or the right gastroepiploic (gastroomental) vein;
Anterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal vein - drains into the superior mesenteric vein or its first jejunal tributary;
Posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal vein - drains into the hepatic portal vein;
Posterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal vein - drains into the superior mesenteric vein or its first jejunal tributary.

The venous drainage of the body and tail of the pancreas occurs via small pancreatic veins that carry venous blood further to the splenic vein.

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Venous drainage