The colic vein is one of two veins accompanying the colon. It is a continuation of the portal vein and branches from it posterior to the duodenum. The portal vein is formed after the fusion of two branches - the superior and inferior mesenteric veins. Then it flows in the recess of the celiac canal, like the right bend of the greater omentum, encircles the front of the initial part of the duodenum and the cecum on the right, passes between the medial fold to the left of the sigmoid colon and the lateral fold of the spleen. The anterior falciform ligament slightly covers the left colic vein at this level. At the point of contact with the upper pole of the left kidney, the ligamentum venosum divides into two terminal branches, which join the left colic vein at the level of the cervix, above the sacral flexure of the splenic intestine.