Vein of the Lateral Fossa

The vein of the lateral fossa (lat. v. fossae cerebri lateralis) is a small vein of the brain that drains blood from the lateral fossa of the cerebrum.

The lateral fossa is located at the base of the frontal lobe of the brain. It is bounded laterally by the groove of the cerebellopntine nerve. From this fossa originates the vein of the lateral fossa, which runs laterally and flows into the superior petrosal vein.

The vein of the lateral fossa drains blood from the adjacent parts of the frontal lobe of the cerebrum. It is one of the tributaries of the superior petrosal vein, which in turn flows into the cavernous venous sinus. Thus, the vein of the lateral fossa is involved in the outflow of venous blood from the cerebral hemispheres.