Functional anatomy of the human inferior mesenteric vein.

The arrangement of muscle, collagenous and elastic fibers in the inferior mesenteric vein was studied in 36 necropsy specimens, using micro- and mesoscopic methods. The muscle fiber bundles are disposed in helicoidal trajectories. The collagenous and elastic fibers also form networks, the latter presenting longitudinal meshes and the former, different angles of intersection, in the vein wall. Functional considerations are made based on these results.