One of the several veins that drain the mesencephalon; the posterior ones are tributaries to the great cerebral vein; the lateral ones are tributaries to the basal vein. The main veins are: pontomesencephalic vein [TA] (vena pontomesencephalica [TA]), interpeduncular veins [TA] (venae interpedunculares [TA]), intercollicular vein [TA] (vena intercollicularis [TA]), and lateral mesencephalic vein [TA] (vena mesencephalica lateralis [TA])[MedLex]. The major vein of the midbrain, which crosses the midbrain medially to meet it's partner the mesencephalic artery[XAO]. [ XAO:0004174 http://www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary.php?t=97378 ]