Postmortem Demonstration of the Source of Pulmonary Thromboembolism: The Importance of the Autopsy

Figure 2

The periprostatic or paravaginal plexus drains primarily to the internal iliac veins via the vesical veins to reach the inferior vena cava and eventually the pulmonary circulation. Alternatively, this plexus communicates with Batson’s vertebral plexus which, in turn, reaches the pulmonary circulation via either the azygous system or the superior vena cava. (This figure is the author's illustration).