Superficial cerebral veins

The superficial cerebral veins (Latin: venae cerebri superficiales) are venous blood vessels that drain both the cerebral cortex and cerebellar cortex. The superficial cerebral veins include the following vessels:

• Superior superficial cerebral veins
• Middle cerebral superficial veins
• Inferior superficial cerebral veins
• Superior cerebellar veins
• Inferior cerebellar veins

There are eight to twelve superior superficial cerebral veins that collect venous blood from the medial and superolateral cerebral hemispheres to drain into the superior sagittal sinus. The middle superficial cerebral veins collect venous blood from the frontal, parietal and temporal lobes of the cerebrum, and empty into the cavernous sinus.

The inferior superficial cerebral veins are the smallest of the superficial cerebral veins. These veins collect venous blood from the inferior surface of the cerebral cortex and drain into adjacent sinuses. And the superior and inferior cerebellar veins drain the cerebellum and flow into the superior and inferior petrosal sinuses, sigmoid sinus, and transverse sinus.