[The cervical vertebral venous plexus and anastomoses with the cranial venous sinuses]

Despite Breschet's detailed description of the vertebral venous system in 1819, it was only in 1940, that Batson demonstrated the preponderant role it plays in the propagation of metastatic carcinomatosis, infection or gas emboli. Although many authors were interested by Batson's theories, but nobody argued on Breschet anatomical description. In their effort to study the role of the venous system in encephalic blood drainage, the authors were confronted with anatomical constatations which differed considerably from the initial descriptions. They also evidenced the existing anatomoses between the cerebral venous sinuses and the vertebral venous system. These anastomoses being the hypoglossal plexus and condylary vein. The emissary veins, if they existing during embryogenesis, most rapidly atrophy to completely disappear in adult.