738 



trunk of considerable size • — at least twice the calibre of an ordinary 

 large vein such as the femoral — and runs more or less parallel ^ to the 

 vertebral colunni. Anteriorly, it communicates with the very much 

 swollen bladder-like base of the subscapulo-jugular vein (which in conse- 

 quence possesses three confluent tributaries, the opening of the posterior 

 cardinal being situated between those of the quite normal internal ju- 

 gular and subscapular veins when viewed from above or below) opening 

 on its dorsal side; posteriorly, the posterior cardinal is in line and con- 

 tinuous with the also large right renal-portal. This right renal-portal. 



Fiij. 1. The abnormally persistent right posterior cardinal vein. A. The dorsal junc- 

 tion of this posterior cardinal to the swollen base of the subscapulo-jugular. B. Veins 

 entering the right renal-^iortal vein from the right kidney. I.J, internal jugular; EJ, 

 external jugular; S.S, Subscapular; M.C, Subclavian: RJ'.C. right posterior cardinal; 

 D.A, dorsal Aorta; R.h'.P, right renal-portal. 



it is important to notice, possesses no venae renales advehentes, i.e. sends 

 no branches into the substance of the right kidney, as is the case with 

 the quite normal left renal-portal, though, where continuous with the 

 posterior cardinal in the anterior third of the kidney, it receives at right 



1 It approaches the median line half-way down the trunk. See Part II. 



