THE VEINS 317 



iii. The renal veins are a pair of large veins 

 running inwards from the kidneys to the vena 

 cava, the right and shorter one being about 

 three-quarters of an inch in front of the left. 



Each renal vein receives a small vein 

 from the corresponding adrenal body, and a 

 much larger one from the dorsal wall of the 

 abdomen. 



iv. The spermatic veins in the male (or ovarian 

 veins in the female) are a pair of small veins 

 returning blood from the testes (or ovaries), 

 and opening into the vena cava near the 

 hinder end of the abdomen. 



v. The ilio-lumbar veins are paired, and return 

 blood from the hinder part of the abdominal 

 walls, opening into the vena cava about the 

 level of the anterior border of the thigh. 



vi. The external iliac veins are a pair of large 

 veins returning blood from the hind-limbs, and 

 opening into the vena cava at the hinder end 

 of the abdomen; about an inch in front of the 

 pubic symphysis. They receive small veins 

 from the bladder [and in the female from the 

 uterus] . 



They are direct continuations of the 

 femoral veins, which lie along the inner or 

 preaxial borders of the thighs. 



vii. The internal iliac veins return blood from the 

 back of the thighs, and, running forwards 

 through the pelvic cavity, unite about half an 

 inch behind the external iliacs to form the 

 commencement of the posterior vena cava. 



2. The portal system consists of the veins returning blood 

 from the whole length of the alimentary canal from 

 the stomach backwards, and also from the pancreas 

 and spleen. These veins lie in the mesentery, and 

 converge to form the main trunk, or portal vein, 



