The anterior spinal veins (longitudinal venous sinuses) lie within the pia mater along the anterior median fissure of the spinal cord.  They anastomose freely with the posterior spinal veins of the spinal cord, and the cerebellar veins and cranial sinuses.

The anterior spinal veins drain blood from the spinal cord into the internal vertebral venous plexuses and subsequently the intervertebral veins.