Veins of the nasal cavity (English)

The nasal veins (sphenopalatine, facial, and ophthalmic veins) follow the pathways of the arteries forming a rich venous plexus within the mucosa of the nasal cavity, particularly at the posterior end of the inferior nasal meatus (Woodruff’s plexus). Veins of the nasal cavity have three main drainage points: the facial vein, cavernous sinus and pterygoid venous plexus. The sphenopalatine vein and its associated tributaries generally travel through the sphenopalatine foramen to drain into the pterygoid venous plexus. The greater palatine vein drains the hard palate and gingiva and enters the infratemporal fossa to also drain into the pterygoid venous plexus. The ethmoidal veins drain the roof and upper septal and lateral walls of the nasal cavity, ethmoidal air sinuses, dorsum of the nose and dura mater. The posterior ethmoidal vein and its associated tributaries empty into the cavernous sinus while the anterior ethmoidal vein and its tributaries drain to the facial or superior ophthalmic vein.