The common cardinal veins, also known as the ducts of Cuvier,[1] are veins that drain into the sinus venosus during embryonic development.

[2][3] Each of the ducts of Cuvier receives an ascending vein.

[citation needed] The ascending veins return the blood from the parietes of the trunk and from the Wolffian bodies, and are called cardinal veins.

Part of the left common cardinal vein persists after birth to form the coronary sinus.

[3] This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 520 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)