Centralvenen

Centralvenen is a term used in Dutch-language medical writing to denote the central venous system, the network of large veins that return blood to the heart. The concept is central to anatomy, physiology, and numerous clinical procedures, including imaging, catheterization, and hemodynamic monitoring.

Anatomically, central veins include the superior vena cava and inferior vena cava, their major tributaries such as the brachiocephalic, internal jugular, and subclavian veins, and principal hepatic veins that drain into the inferior vena cava. These vessels form the central portion of the systemic venous return, delivering blood to the right atrium.

Clinically, central veins are involved in central venous access for medication administration, parenteral nutrition, and hemodialysis, as well as in measurement of central venous pressure. Complications related to central veins include thrombosis, stenosis after catheter placement, infection, and pneumothorax during catheter insertion.

Diagnosis and imaging typically rely on ultrasound to guide cannulation and to assess patency, while computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide broader anatomic detail for preoperative planning or suspected obstruction.

Terminology varies by language and specialty, but centralvenen is consistently used to refer to the central portion of the venous system responsible for returning blood to the heart.