The left gastric vein carries blood low in oxygen, tributaries derived from both surfaces of the stomach

Stomach

The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...

; it runs from right to left along the lesser curvature of the stomach, between the two layers of the lesser omentum

Lesser omentum

The lesser omentum is the double layer of peritoneum that extends from the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach and the start of the duodenum.- Structure :...

, to the esophageal

Esophageal

Esophageal can refer to:* The esophagus* Esophageal arteries* Esophageal glands...

 opening of the stomach, where it receives some esophageal veins.

It then turns backward and passes from left to right behind the omental bursa and drains into the portal vein.

Esophageal and paraesophageal varices

Esophageal varices

In medicine , esophageal varices are extremely dilated sub-mucosal veins in the lower esophagus...

 are primarily supplied by the left gastric vein and typically drain into the azygos

Azygos

In anatomy, azygos, from the Greek άζυξ, refers to a structure that is unpaired. This is relatively unusual, as most elements of anatomy reflect bilateral symmetry. Another term for the same concept is impar....

/hemiazygos venous system.