Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Ascending lumbar
Introduction
The ascending lumbar vein is a vein that runs up through the lumbar region on the side of the vertebral column.
Structure
Structure
The ascending lumbar vein is a paired structure (i.e. one each for the right and left sides of the body). It starts at the lateral sacral veins, and it runs superiorly, intersecting with the lumbar veins as it crosses them.
When the ascending lumbar vein crosses the subcostal vein, it becomes one of the following:
- the azygos vein (in the case of the right ascending lumbar vein)
- the hemiazygos vein (in the case of the left ascending lumbar vein)
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]