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Copyright © 2019. Anatomy & Cell Biology
Introduction
In present age of advanced radiological facility, laparo-
scopic and transplant surgeries, the knowledge about course
and variation of gonadal veins is important. Anatomic and/
physiologic alteration of ovarian veins may give rise to vari-
ous clinical conditions including ovarian vein reflux or pelvic
congestion syndrome [1]. Ovarian venous reflux is the major
cause of chronic pelvic pain in women particularly of child
bearing age and ovarian venous embolization or clipping
could be an effective treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome
[2, 3]. Identification of ovarian veins and tracing their courses
through abdomen in computed tomography (CT) is a com-
monly used method of localizing the ovaries in living. It helps
finding out the origin of a pelvic mass whether ovarian or
not [4]. During renal transplant surgeries the donor gonadal
vein is often utilized for vascular reconstruction [5-7]. It is
suspected that some variations of the gonadal venous drain-
age pattern could induce hemodynamic differences causing
gonadal venous congestion [8]; reflux in incompetent and
dilated ovarian vein may cause pelvic congestion [1, 9].
The ovarian veins originate from a pampiniform plexus
in the broad ligament around ovary and fallopian tube, then
ascend upward superficial to psoas major muscle and follow a
retroperitoneal course lying on posterior abdominal wall. The
right ovarian vein usually drains into the inferior vena cava
(IVC) whereas the left ovarian vein drains into the left renal
Original Article
https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.19.062
pISSN 2093-3665 eISSN 2093-3673
Corresponding author:
Anasuya Ghosh
Department of Anatomy, Medical University of the Americas, P.O. Box
701, Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis, West Indies
Tel: +03329516007, E-mail: dranasuya7@gmail.com
Present affiliation: Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of
Medical Sciences, Kalyani NH-34 Connector, Basantapur, Saguna,
Kalyani, West Bengal-741245, India.
A cadaveric study of ovarian veins: variations,
measurements and clinical significance
Anasuya Ghosh, Subhramoy Chaudhury
Department of Anatomy, Medical University of the Americas, Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis, West Indies
Abstract: The literature showing information regarding ovarian venous variation, its diameter and termination distance from
respective renal venous origin are limited. This information is important in various surgical and clinical procedures including
venous embolization, vascular reconstruction during renal transplantation and localizing the source of origin of a pelvic
mass. We examined 94 sides of 47 formalin fixed female cadavers and noted the course and termination of ovarian veins. We
measured the diameter of ovarian veins at their termination point and the termination distance in respect to the termination
point of renal veins at inferior vena cava (IVC) on respective sides. We found two cases of variations related to right ovarian
vein -one, right ovarian vein joined the right renal vein; two, right ovarian vein duplicated and joined with IVC at two different
points. We found one case of variation related to left ovarian vein—a partially duplicated left ovarian vein. All the variations
were unilateral. The mean diameters of right and left ovarian veins were 3.66±1.18 and 4.20±0.96 mm, respectively. The
distance of termination of ovarian veins ranged from 19–40 mm and 13–41 mm, respectively from termination points of right
and left renal veins at IVC on respective sides. Our study presents a set of data regarding variation of ovarian veins, diameters
and termination distances which could be useful for gynecologists, surgeons and radiologists.
Key words: Variation of ovarian vein, Diameter of ovarian vein, Termination of ovarian vein, Clinical significance of ovarian vein
Received March 18, 2019; Revised May 13, 2019; Accepted May 16, 2019
Anat Cell Biol Anasuya Ghosh and Subhramoy Chaudhury
384
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https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.19.062
vein in most individuals [1, 10, 11].
Available literature showing evidence of variation of ovar-
ian vein is very limited, whereas, variant drainage pattern
of testicular vein has been reported relatively frequently in
literature [4, 8, 10, 12-16]. The diagnosis of testicular venous
insufficiency in form of varicocele is relatively less compli-
cated with advent of testicular color Doppler ultrasonography
in addition to clinical examination of testis [17]. On the other
hand, the diagnosis of pelvic congestion syndrome and left
renal vein compression syndrome in women are relatively dif-
ficult to diagnose as there are no gold standard techniques-
duplex ultrasound is not much helpful, catheter based intra-
venous pressure measurement is too expensive for a routine
use, only measurement of venous diameter could be of some
help [2]. Very few researchers have measured and reported
the diameters of ovarian veins [9, 18].
In present study we investigated the variations and mea-
surements related to ovarian veins. We dissected 47 well em-
balmed female cadavers to find out variations in the course
and termination pattern of ovarian veins. We measured the
diameter of ovarian veins at their termination points, and in
addition, the distance of their termination sites from nearby
anatomical landmark.
Materials and Methods
This study was conducted on 94 sides of 47 formalin fixed
dissection room female cadavers in the anatomy dissection
lab of our institution over a period of 4 years. The mean age
of the cadavers varied from 64 to 87 years.
We followed the conventional dissection techniques; the
anterior abdominal wall was dissected and lifted laterally.
The peritoneum and fat on posterior abdominal wall was dis-
sected and genitourinary organs were exposed and cleaned.
The ovarian veins were secured on both sides. We examined
and recorded the following things: (1) The course of ovarian
vessels on both sides of each cadaver, (2) The diameters of
the ovarian veins at their termination, and (3) The distances
between the termination sites of ovarian veins and point of
termination of renal veins at IVC on respective sides (i.e., the
vertical distance between the point of termination of right re-
nal vein at IVC to the termination point of right ovarian vein
at IVC on right side; and the horizontal distance between the
termination point of left renal vein at IVC to the termination
point of left ovarian vein at left renal vein on left side) (Fig. 1).
All the measurements were taken by calipers.
We calculated the mean and standard deviations of diam-
eters and distances of right and left ovarian veins using Mi-
crosoft excel software (2013). We calculated the P-value using
online P-value calculator (http://www.medcalc.org/calc) and
correlation coefficient of two sets of ovarian venous diam-
eters. We also calculated correlation coefficient between the
set of diameters versus distances on each side.
Results
In majority of cases, the right ovarian veins terminated at
IVC and the left ovarian veins terminated at left renal vein.
Only 3 out of 94 dissected ovarian veins (0.03%) showed
variation as follows.
In a 76-year-old cadaver, the right ovarian vein drained
into right renal vein, it joined the right renal vein at 19 mm
distal to the origin of right renal vein from IVC at a right
angle. Its diameter was 5.5 mm at termination (Fig. 2). The
left ovarian vein in this case normally terminated in left renal
vein 38 mm distal to the termination point of left renal vein,
having a termination diameter of 3 mm.
In a 64-year-old cadaver, the right ovarian vein showed
duplication. Two ovarian veins were found on right side hav-
ing different diameters (2 mm and 1 mm, respectively); both
the ovarian veins drained into IVC—thicker one at 24 mm
and thinner one at 14 mm distal to termination point of right
Fig. 1. The measurement points in a schematic diagram: AB, distance
from right ovarian venous termination to origin of right renal vein from
inferior vena cava (IVC); BC, diameter of right ovarian vein at termi-
nation; DE, distance from left ovarian venous termination to origin
of left renal vein from IVC; EF, diameter of left ovarian vein at termi-
nation. AO, abdominal aorta; LK, left kidney; LOV, left ovarian vein;
LRV, left renal vein; LSR, left suprarenal gland; LU, left ureter; RK,
right kidney; ROV, right ovarian vein; RRV, right renal vein; RSR, right
suprarenal gland; RU, right ureter.
Cadaveric study of ovarian veins
https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.19.062
Anat Cell Biol 385
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renal vein. The thick one joined through the anterior surface
of IVC while the thin one drained through the postero-lateral
aspect of the IVC. Both made acute angles while joining the
IVC. The left ovarian vein had a diameter of 3.6 mm and ter-
minated at 40 mm distal to point of termination of left renal
vein (Fig. 3).
In an 85-year-old cadaver, the left ovarian vein was par-
tially duplicated. It bifurcated 40 mm distal to its termination
at left renal vein. The diameters of the duplicated tributaries
were 1.1 and 1.2 mm, respectively and their termination sites
were separated from each other by 10 mm on left renal vein
(Fig. 4). The right ovarian vein was 3.2 mm wide at its termi-
nation at IVC and the termination site was 35 mm distal to
the termination point of right renal vein at IVC.
All the ovarian venous variations were unilateral. The
ovarian arteries originated from abdominal aorta in all cases
and no obvious variation was noted.
The average diameter of ovarian veins was 3.93±1.11 mm
(range, 1–7 mm) while considering all right and left-sided
ovarian veins together. The mean distances of right and left
ovarian vein termination points from the points of termina-
tion of right and left renal veins at IVC were approximately
28.12±7.54 mm and 28.49±5.76 mm, respectively (Table 1).
We found the diameter of left ovarian veins were statistical-
ly significantly higher than right sided ovarian veins (P<0.05).
Fig. 2. Right ovarian vein draining into right renal vein. AO, abdominal
aorta; IVC, inferior vena cava; LK, left kidney ; LOV, left ovarian vein;
LRV, left renal vein; RK, right kidney; ROV, right ovarian vein; RRV,
right renal vein.
Fig. 3. Duplication of right ovarian vein. AO, abdominal aorta; IMA,
inferior mesenteric artery; IVC, inferior vena cava; LK, left kidney;
LOV, left ovarian vein; LRV, left renal vein; RK, right kidney; ROV,
right ovarian vein; RRV, right renal vein.
Fig. 4. Partially duplicated left ovarian vein. LK, left kidney; LRV, left
renal vein; LOV1 and 2, left ovarian vein 1 and 2.
Table 1. Measurements of ovarian vein
Var iabl e Right ovarian
vein (mm)
Left ovarian
vein (mm)
Total (right+left
ovarian veins)
(mm)
P-value
Diameter
Mean±SD 3.66±1.18 4.20±0.96 3.93±1.11 0.02
Range 1–5.5 3–7 1–7
Termination distance
Mean±SD 28.12±7.54 28.49±5.76 28.30±6.65 -
Range 13–41 19–40 13–41
Anat Cell Biol Anasuya Ghosh and Subhramoy Chaudhury
386
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https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.19.062
We did not find any strong positive or negative correlations
between any two groups (i.e., right vs. left diameters, right vs.
left distances, diameters vs. distances on right and left sides)
(Table 2).
Discussion
In our dissection based study on ovarian veins, we found
0.031% variations (0.02% in course and 0.01% in termination
site) of ovarian veins and all variations were unilateral. We
found a set of values regarding range of diameters of right and
left sided ovarian veins and their termination distances.
In a previous study by Asala et al. [13], 0.013% termina-
tion variation was noted in right sided gonadal veins which is
similar to our findings; however, the previous study included
both sexes. Another CT scan based study on 324 women by
Koc et al. [19], reported 9.9% right ovarian vein drained into
right renal vein, which was considerably different from our
study and the study by Asala et al. [13], may be due to inclu-
sion of larger population group in that study. This kind of
variant drainage pattern could be responsible for pelvic con-
gestion syndrome on right side [19]. Wong et al. [5] reported
a case of duplication of right ovarian vein which terminated
in IVC.
In a study by Pavkov et al. [20] on plastinated cadavers, the
mean diameter of ovarian veins was 3.49 mm; in our study it
was 3.93 mm. A multi-detector computed tomography based
study [9] showed the mean right and left ovarian venous di-
ameters as 2.9 and 3.2 mm, respectively. Another CT based
study by Nascimento et al. [18] showed the average diameters
were 4.4 mm and 4.5–6.5 mm in right and left ovarian veins,
respectively. In current study, our findings (mean right and
left ovarian venous diameter, 3.66 mm and 4.20 mm, respec-
tively) fall in range with previous study-findings. We found
relatively higher diameters in left ovarian veins similar to
some previous studies [9, 19] which was found to be statisti-
cally significant (P<0.05). It could be due to natural anatomi-
cal factors which make the left gonadal vein more vulnerable
to congestion and dilatation [2].
Gonadal veins develop along with IVC and renal veins
during early fetal life. The renal segment of IVC, the renal
veins and gonadal veins are derived from development and
regression of a set of fetal veins namely supracardinal veins,
subcardinal veins, and the anastomoses between bilateral sub-
cardinal and supracardinal veins. Normally, the caudal part of
sub cardinal veins give rise to the gonadal veins on both sides.
They drain into supra-sub cardinal anastomosis which forms
part of IVC on right and part of renal vein on left side [10,
11]. So the usual anatomical terminations of gonadal veins are
different on right and left sides.
To our knowledge, current study is the first one where the
distances between the termination points of ovarian veins
from the points of termination of respective renal veins were
measured. The range of distance-values might help gynecolo-
gists and radiologists while performing ovarian vein embo-
lization procedures by catheterizing respective femoral vein
and while approaching ovarian vein under radiologic guid-
ance to prevent failure of catheterization of the target vein or
its inadvertent puncture [21, 22]. These values might help the
utilization of ovarian veins for vascular reconstruction dur-
ing renal transplantation surgeries too. Increase in ovarian
venous diameter could be a useful parameter to diagnose and
treat a case of pelvic congestion syndrome and left renal vein
compression syndromes [2].
We could not find any variations related to ovarian artery
in any case although previous researchers found some varia-
tions related to the course of testicular artery [23].
The major limitations of our study were- embalming pro-
cedure related limitations in cadaveric measurements and rel-
atively lesser population size. Future studies could be planned
comparing the ovarian venous diameters and distances in the
living (with and without pelvic congestion syndrome) and ca-
davers covering a large population group to validate the cur-
rent values.
In conclusion, we present here a set of data on ovarian ve-
nous diameters, termination distances from respective renal
vein termination points and variations in course and termina-
tion of ovarian veins. These data are very relevant in lower ab-
dominal and pelvic laparoscopic surgeries, vascular emboliza-
tion surgeries, renal transplantation surgeries and radiological
interventions and interpretations of female pelvic disorders,
in order to avoid damage to this vessels or misinterpretation
Table 2. Correlation between various sets of values
Parameter Correlation coefficient (r)
Diameter of right versus left ovarian vein –0.257 (very weak negative
correlation)
Termination distances right versus left side 0.269 (very weak positive
correlation)
Diameter of left ovarian vein and distance
of left ovarian vein termination point
0.0003 (very weak positive
correlation)
Diameter of right ovarian vein and distance
of right ovarian vein termination point
0.462 (weak positive
correlation)
Cadaveric study of ovarian veins
https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.19.062
Anat Cell Biol 387
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of radiological conditions.
ORCID
Anasuya Ghosh: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9037-1611
Author Contributions
Conceptualization: SC, AG. Data acquisition: AG, SC. Data
analysis or interpretation: AG. Drafting of the manuscript:
AG, SC. Critical revision of the manuscript: AG. Approval of
the final version of the manuscript: all authors.
Conflicts of Interest
No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was
reported.
Acknowledgements
We sincerely acknowledge those kind persons, who donat-
ed their bodies for medical education and research, without
whom our study would not have been possible.
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