98 ANATOMY OF THE RAT 



inferior vena cava. As the right kidney lies anterior to 

 the left, so the right renal vein joins the inferior vena cava 

 anterior to the left renal. Locate and trace the suprarenal 

 veins, which drain the suprarenal glands. The two ovariam, 

 veins pass from the vicinity of the ovary, along the broad 

 ligament of the uterus, in company with the ovarian ar- 

 teries, thence along the dorsal side of the abdominal cavity. 

 The left ovarian vein joins the left renal vein, the right 

 ovarian opens into the inferior vena cava some distance 

 caudad to the right renal vein. Do you find spermatic 

 veins corresponding in general location to the ovarian 

 veins? In other mammals, the cat and man for instance, 

 right and left spermatic veins are present which open into 

 the inferior vena cava and left renal veins, respectively. 

 The right and left iliolumbar veins join the inferior vena 

 cava in the lumbar region. They accompany the corre- 

 sponding iliolumbar arteries. Follow the course of each 

 vein from its mouth caudolaterally across the dorsal sur- 

 face of the abdominal cavity. 



Trace the inferior vena cava caudally to the region 

 where it is formed by the confluence of the right and left 

 common iliac veins. Follow each common iliac distally to 

 its bifurcation into the external iliac and hypogastric {in- 

 ternal iliac) veins. The latter may be traced dorsally into 

 the mass of muscle, then posteriorly close to the median 

 surface of the pelvic girdle. The external iliac vein gives 

 off several branches, one of which, the femoral vein, ac- 

 companies the femoral artery along the inner portion of 

 the thigh. Note any veins which carry blood away from 

 the urogenital organs. Locate the junction of the middle 

 sacral vein with the dorsal side of the inferior vena cava 

 near the union of the latter with the common iliac veins. 

 Trace the caudal vein posteriorly through the pelvic region 

 ventral to the sacrum. 



