The occipital vein belongs to veins in the human head. Thus, it is a part of the central nervous system. It supplies regions of the occipital head.
What is the occipital vein?
The occipital vein is a so-called occipital vein. With its various branches, it supplies areas of the cortex and the underlying medullary bed in the back of the head. A distinction must be made between superficial and deep veins in the blood supply to the human brain. The superficial cranial nerves drain the blood in the cerebrum within an area about 1-2 cm outside. The deep cranial nerves supply the brain to the middle structures. The occipital vein belongs to the superficial cranial nerves. It conducts blood in the occipital region from the brain surface to the first layers of the cortex. The occipital vein can be divided into two veins. The superior occipital veins and inferior occipital veins. The venae occipitalis superiores is located with its branches in the area of the upper back of the head. The inferior occipital veins supply venous blood to the brain in the lower occiput. All venae are branches of the great sulci of the cerebrum. They collect blood from the cerebral cortex and the underlying medullary canal. From there, they continue into the cerebrum as so-called bridging veins.
Anatomy and structure
Superficial veins drain blood from the outer cortex. They are divided into two types of veins. The occipital vein is classified as one of them. It is to be divided into the venae occipitalis superioes and venae occipitalis inferiores. All branches of the occipital veins drain blood from the outer approximately 1-2 cm of the cerebrum. There are approximately 8-12 of the superior cerebral veins per hemisphere. They drain blood from the frontal and parietal lobes along large sulci of the endbrain. From there, it flows directly into the superior sagittal sinus. From the superior sagittal sinus, several veins branch and supply the upper part of the cerebrum. They include, from anterior to posterior, along the superior sagittal sinus, the prefrontal veins, the frontal veins, the central veins, the parietal veins, and the superior occipital veins. These are at the upper back of the head. The pathway continues to the inferior occipital. The superior sagittal sinus becomes the transverse sinus. The inferior occipital vein and the temporal veins descend from it.
Function and Tasks
The occipital vein contains venous blood. Even though this is particularly low in oxygen, the blood supplies surrounding tissues with oxygen. It additionally plays an important role in the removal of CO2 nutrients. Minerals or hormones are transported to their destination via the blood. The bloodstream of the human organism regulates heat within the entire body through the blood. As part of the system, the occipital vein also performs these functions. Veins have a thinner outer wall than arteries. Therefore, they are often used by medical professionals during various procedures in order to obtain blood for control purposes or to be able to deliver various agents to the body in sufficient quantities. Since the vena occipitales is located below the skullcap, it is used for this purpose within surgical interventions. Via the blood circulation, the active substances are transferred to their destination in a matter of seconds to minutes. The various branches of the different veins mean that this can often be done in different ways. The occipital vein is part of the blood supply to the back of the head. This is called the regio occipitales. The occipital lobe is located there. It is the smallest of the existing four lobes and processes visual perception. The occipital lobe is also called the visual center of the brain. It processes all stimuli that are received via the eye. Colors, brightness and other visual impulses, such as mechanical stimuli, flow to the back of the human brain. In order for visual processing to occur in the occipital lobe, it must be supplied with various nerve fibers and venous blood.
Diseases
Superficial veins such as the occipital vein are located in what is called the subarachnoid space. This means that these veins can be injured even in minor head trauma. This can be caused by accidents, falls or, for example, blows to the back of the head. This usually results in extensive bleeding into the subdural space.In such a case, physicians speak of subdural hemorrhages. If these hemorrhages do not spontaneously stop, they may result in so-called space-occupying lesions in the subdural space. This compresses the brain and impairs individual functions. This often results in headaches or a feeling of pressure inside the skull. In addition, in severe cases, neurological deficits can be expected. These include migraine or high blood pressure. If bleeding persists, strokes, brain inflammation or epilepsy may occur. The difficulty is often that the temporal relationship between the triggering event and a physical reaction is sometimes very large. Often it is several weeks after the actual injury. Under normal circumstances, the blood pressure in the affected vessels is very low. Thus, blood is slow to exit the occipital vein during an injury. The spread of a continuing hemorrhage is therefore a slow continuous process. Therefore, the effect of an initiating event is often underestimated and recognized too late.
