inferior mesenteric vein

inferior mesenteric vein

n.

A vein that is the continuation of the superior rectal vein at the brim of the pelvis, ascends to the left of the aorta behind the peritoneum, and empties into the splenic vein or into the superior mesenteric vein.

---

inferior mesenteric vein,

the vein in the lower body that returns the blood from the rectum, the sigmoid and descending colons, and part of the transverse colon. It receives the sigmoid veins from the sigmoid colon and the iliac colon and the left colic vein from the descending colon and the left colic flexure. Compare superior mesenteric vein.