The angular vein is a vein located between the top of the nose and the eye. It forms from a junction of the supratrochlear vein and the supraorbital vein. The angular vein is comparatively short and located near the front of the eye socket, near the nose. The angular vein continues through the face as the facial vein, which drains much of the blood from the face.
In rare cases, two angular veins may result from a split of the trunk at the top of the nose. In this case, the two frontal veins join to make up the angular vein trunk.
The angular vein receives blood from the superior, inferior palpebral, external nasal, and infraorbital veins. It drains into the superior ophthalmic vein and forms an important connection with the cavernous sinus.
A varix (abnormal swelling) of the angular vein may falsely appear similar to a lacrimal sac mucocele, which is a swelling of a part of the tear system located below the inner corner of the eye. Swelling of the angular vein is rare but may be caused by genetic factors, trauma, tissue abnormality, or a chronic blood flow obstruction. The only risk from such a varix is a small chance of intracranial air embolus, which is when air enters the veins, a potentially deadly event.