The angular vein formed by the junction of the frontal vein

Frontal vein

The frontal vein begins on the forehead in a venous plexus which communicates with the frontal branches of the superficial temporal vein....

 and supraorbital vein

Supraorbital vein

The supraorbital vein begins on the forehead where it communicates with the frontal branch of the superficial temporal vein.It runs downward superficial to the Frontalis muscle, and joins the frontal vein at the medial angle of the orbit to form the angular vein.Previous to its junction with the...

, runs obliquely downward, on the side of the root of the nose

Human nose

The visible part of the human nose is the protruding part of the face that bears the nostrils. The shape of the nose is determined by the ethmoid bone and the nasal septum, which consists mostly of cartilage and which separates the nostrils...

, to the level of the lower margin of the orbit, where it becomes the anterior facial vein

Anterior facial vein

The anterior facial vein commences at the side of the root of the nose and is a direct continuation of the angular vein where it also receives a small nasal branch. It lies behind the facial artery and follows a less tortuous course...

.

It receives the external nasal veins of the ala nasi, and communicates with the superior ophthalmic vein

Superior ophthalmic vein

The superior ophthalmic vein begins at the inner angle of the orbit in a vein named the nasofrontal which communicates anteriorly with the angular vein; it pursues the same course as the ophthalmic artery, and receives tributaries corresponding to the branches of that vessel.Forming a short single...

 through the nasofrontal vein, thus establishing an important anastomosis

Anastomosis

An anastomosis is the reconnection of two streams that previously branched out, such as blood vessels or leaf veins. The term is used in medicine, biology, mycology and geology....

 between the anterior facial vein

Anterior facial vein

The anterior facial vein commences at the side of the root of the nose and is a direct continuation of the angular vein where it also receives a small nasal branch. It lies behind the facial artery and follows a less tortuous course...

 and the cavernous sinus

Cavernous sinus

The cavernous sinus , within the human head, is a large collection of thin-walled veins creating a cavity bordered by the temporal bone of the skull and the sphenoid bone, lateral to the sella turcica.-Contents:...

.

External links

• Diagram at stchas.edu
• http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_47/47-5.HTM