| Superior ophthalmic vein | |
|---|---|
 Veins of orbit. (Superior ophthalmic labeled at top.) | |
 The sinuses at the base of the skull. (Superior ophthalmic vein labeled at upper right.) | |
| Details | |
| Source | Union of angular vein and supraorbital vein |
| Drains to | Cavernous sinus |
| Artery | Ophthalmic artery |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | vena ophthalmica superior |
| TA98 | A12.3.06.102 |
| TA2 | 4887 |
| FMA | 51246 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The superior ophthalmic vein is a vein of the orbit that drains venous blood from structures of the upper orbit. It is formed by the union of the angular vein, and supraorbital vein. It passes backwards within the orbit alongside the ophthalmic artery, then exits the orbit through the superior orbital fissure to drain into the cavernous sinus.
The superior ophthalmic vein can be a path for the spread of infection from the danger triangle of the face to the cavernous sinus and the pterygoid plexus. It may also be affected by an arteriovenous fistula of the cavernous sinus.