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 ovarian veins pass from the vicinity of the ovary, along the broad ligament of the uterus, in company with the ovarian arteries, 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 corresponding iliolumbar arteries. Follow the course of each vein from its mouth caudolaterally across the dorsal surface 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 (internal 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, accompanies 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.
