A technical approach to dissecting and assessing cadaveric veins pertinent to chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To establish a detailed technical procedure for studying the anatomical correlates of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in cadavers of multiple sclerosis and control subjects, and to present our findings of the normal anatomic venous structures, with reference to previous descriptions from the literature.

Methods: This study examined the internal jugular veins (IJVs), the brachiocephalic veins, and the azygos vein from 20 cadavers (10 control and 10 multiple sclerosis). These veins were exposed, isolated by clamps from the rest of the venous system, flushed with water, and then injected with fluid silicone from the superior ends of both IJVs.