Lumbar veins

Lumbar veins
The veins of the right half of the male pelvis. (Third lumbar labeled at center top.)
Details
Drains to	Inferior vena cava
Artery	Lumbar arteries
Identifiers
Latin	venae lumbales
TA	A12.3.07.012 A12.3.09.003
FMA	70889
Anatomical terminology []

The lumbar veins are veins running along the inside of the posterior abdominal wall. They are the lumbar equivalent of the posterior intercostal veins.

They are four in number and accompany the four lumbar arteries, with the vein lying superior to the artery (the same arrangement as in the intercostal neurovascular bundles). The first and second lumbar veins usually join the ascending lumbar vein rather than the inferior vena cava, which then joins the subcostal vein of the same side to form the azygous vein on the right or hemiazygous vein on the left. The third and fourth lumbar veins on the left pass behind the abdominal aorta to reach the inferior vena cava and all lie behind the sympathetic trunks.

The iliolumbar veins join the common iliac veins.