Diploic veins

German: Diploevene

1 Definition

The diploic veins are veins situated within the diploe of the calvaria.

2 Anatomy

The diploic veins pass within the diploe of calvaria and are connected due to emissary veins to the dural venous sinuses and also to the external venous drainage of the skull.

There are four different diploic veins named after the areas of the skull they travel in.

• Frontal diploic vein
• Anterior temporal diploic vein
• Posterior temporal diploic vein
• Occipital diploic vein

The frontal diploic vein, which is located in the diploe of the frontal bone, drains inwards into superior sagittal sinus and outward into supraorbital vein.

The anterior temporal diploic vein, which is located mainly within frontal bone but also partly within parietal bone, drains inwards into sphenoparietal sinus and outward into deep temporal vein.

The posterior temporal diploic vein, which is located in the diploe of parietal bone, connects the superior sagittal sinus with the transverse sinus.

The occipital diploic vain, situated in the diploe of occipital bone, drains inwards into confluence of the sinuses or transverse sinus and outward into occipital vein. The occipital diploic vein is the largest of these four.

3 Clinical relevance

The diploic veins build a direct connection between the external venous drainage of the skull and the internal situated sinuses. Infections can spread through the connections and reach the dural venous sinuses at this level pathogens can cause for example meningitis.

4 Reference

• [1] retrieved on 18 June 2016
• [2] retrieved on 18 June 2016