Caudal vein

Injection of an experimental active ingredient into the tail vein of a pet rat using an indwelling vein cannula ( butterfly )

The caudal vein , also called caudal vein or caudal vein ( lat. Vena caudalis mediana ; cauda = "tail"), is the largest vein in the tail of vertebrates .

The blood from the muscles of the tail is returned to the tail vein via tail branches ( rami caudales ) . In mammals , the tail vein leads into the caudal vena cava ("posterior vena cava"). In many species , the tail vein is directly connected to the right subcardinal vein .

In the model organisms color mouse and color rat , or the corresponding domestic animals , the tail vein is a frequently used access point for intravenous administration of active substances or for taking blood . In mice, the tail vein can be easily expanded with warm water or thermal radiation, so that it can be more safely hit with the cannula . The tail vein is comparatively difficult to see in rats. By removing the superficially keratinized epithelial cells of the tail, for example by exposure to a saturated solution of sodium sulfide , the visibility can be significantly increased.

The tail vein can also be used for these purposes in ruminants , turtles , lizards and snakes .

further reading

• K. Reifenberg: Applications and sampling - taking blood from test animals. (PDF; 6.3 MB) from the lecture Laboratory Animal Science , University of Mainz.
• G. Dirksen, W. Hermanns: Disc lesions on the tail of cattle as a result of improper fixation for blood collection from the median caudal vein. In: German Veterinary Weekly Publication 114, 2007, pp. 178–182. doi : 10.2377 / 0341-6593-114-178

Individual evidence

1. ^ W. Westheide, G. Rieger: Special Zoology: Part 2: Vertebral Or Skull Animals. Verlag Springer, 2009, ISBN 3-827-42039-3 , p. 113. Restricted preview in the Google book search
2. ↑ A. Rijnberk, HW de Vries (Ed.): Anamnesis and physical examination of small pets and pets. Georg Thieme Verlag, 2004, ISBN 3-830-41045-X , p. 364f limited preview in the Google book search
3. ↑ W. Baumgartner (Ed.): Clinical propaedeutics of internal diseases and skin diseases of domestic animals. Georg Thieme Verlag, 2005 ISBN 3-830-44156-8 , p. 208. Restricted preview in the Google book search
4. ↑ W. Baumgartner (Ed.): Clinical propaedeutics of internal diseases and skin diseases of domestic animals. Georg Thieme Verlag, 2005 ISBN 3-830-44156-8 , p. 355. limited preview in Google book search

Web links

• Blood draw from the tail vein (rat)