Main Entry: car·di·nal vein

Pronunciation: \ˌkärd-nəl-, -^ən-əl-\

Function: noun

: any of four longitudinal veins of the vertebrate embryo running anteriorly and posteriorly along each side of the spinal column with the pair on each side meeting at and discharging blood to the heart through the corresponding duct of Cuvier—called also cardinal sinus, Cuvierian vein