The splenic vein is a tributary of the portal circulation. It begins at the hilum of the spleen by the union of several veins and is then joined by the short gastric and left gastroepiploic veins. It passes to the right within the splenicorenal ligament and runs behind the pancreas.
Splenic vein joins the superior mesenteric vein behind the neck of the pancreas to form the portal vein. It is joined by veins from the pancreas and the inferior mesenteric vein.