external vertebral venous plexus

Definition: plexus of unvalved veins surrounding the vertebral column, with greatest venous density anterior to the vertebral bodies (anterior external vertebral venous plexus [TA]) and posterior to the vertebral arch (posterior external vertebral venous plexus [TA]); communicates with the internal vertebral venous plexus through intervertebral veins and with the segmental veins of each vertebral level.

Synonym(s): plexus venosus vertebralis externusTA

See Also: vertebral venous system